“What about during your marriage?”
“Not once did I break my marriage vows. I’d never have been able to look at Marianne if I’d done to her what my parents had done to each other.”
“You mean that.” Avery tilted her head. Her glossy hair fell forward across her face, yet was pretty as ever, especially when slightly mussed from sex.
“I spent too many years dealing with lies in my relationships to let them continue into what the two of us can have.”
Avery squeezed his hand, sending him a sweet smile. “I don’t want any lies between us. From this moment on, I’m crossing the ménage fantasy off my list. It would hurt you if I let another man touch me. It would destroy me if I saw another woman touch you. Period. The end.”
“You’ve no idea how much that means to me. Tell me something.”
“Anything.”
“What are some other fantasies on your bucket list? Be open, I want to be the man you act them out with.”
“Since you asked, I have several fantasies. I’d like to try anal sex, double penetration with a toy and your cock,” she said. “At the top of the list is impulsive sex in a public place, where we could be seen, but no one would know what’s really happening.”
“Then trust me to take care of you while we are living out a week of secret fantasies, Avery. I’m not out to hurt you. I’ll not stray, lie or play games with you.”
“I already trust you.”
“Then show me.”
“How?”
“Lay back, relax and let me eat you all up. You smell like chocolate and I’m hungry for a taste.”
Avery grinned as if she’d won a high-stakes poker game. “Okay, I’m all yours.”
“Yes, you are. But you need to be tied.”
“Tied, really?”
“Yes.”
As if she’d become a courtesan, she stretched herself out, using the hotel pillows to prop herself up, placing her hands up over her head on the pillow. “If I promise not to move, is this proof enough?”
“Hold just like that,” he told her.
He got up off the bed, went to his suitcase and pulled out a bondage ribbon he’d packed when he’d stopped in at his condo earlier.
Before taking the ribbon back to the bed, his cellphone played Abracadabra. “Sorry, baby. I have to take that.”
“Not going anywhere,” she said, looking at him in such a way that it left him spellbound.
Quickly locating his phone still hooked to pants that were lying across the back of the chaise, he tried to intercept the call before it went to voicemail.
He missed Gabriel’s call despite his efforts and dialed his friend’s number. Keeping his eyes on Avery as she lay among the plush hotel bedding, he couldn’t help but get heavy and hard as a hammer.
“Gabriel, hey, man, what’s up?”
“Hey back, buddy,” Gabriel answered. “Afraid I can’t get tickets for tonight, but I can give you two passes for my private box for tomorrow evening’s late showing.”
“Hold on, let me check with Avery.” Lowering the phone from his ear he said, “Would you be okay if we waited until tomorrow night to see Gabriel’s show?”
“I’m fine with that.” She looked slightly disappointed, but there wasn’t much he could do if the shows were filled to capacity.
“Avery and I will take the passes, thank you, Gabriel.”
Hazard ended the call with his friend, made a quick decision and texted the lead guitarist in the Truth or Dare Club’s house band, rescheduling his set.
Anxious to get back to Avery, he playfully ran the ribbon up and down her fit, gorgeous body, teasing her nipples, her abdomen and between her legs before wrapping her wrists without putting pressure on her bones or threatening circulation.
“One thing before we continue. Since we can’t go to Gabriel’s show until tomorrow night, I switched my set. Thought it’d be nice to order pizza later, rent a movie and get started on that bucket list of yours.”
“Can the pizza have pepperoni?”
“Whatever you want, baby.”
“Would you mind terribly if we rent something really naughty and erotic?”
“Do you know many men who’d pass up watching porn?”
“Thinking on it, no, I don’t. We could always up the ante and act out what we see.”
“Is that a dare, Avery Grant?”
“Why, yes, yes it is, Hazard Osbourne. Now you promised something wicked and I’m all helpless waiting for you.”
“You’re not afraid?”
“Not at all, being bound for you is incredibly freeing.”
“You’re gonna love this then.”
“Oh, I know, lover. I know.”
Being Avery’s lover was an honor. Accepting that she’d rapidly become important to him and not freaking out over the fact that he was falling in love with her, he topped her, beginning with a kiss.
Chapter Seven
Sitting across from Hazard at a fondue restaurant the following evening, Avery never expected to meet illusionist Gabriel Krystiyan.
It happened in a flourish. One second she and Hazard were alone in a big plush booth made of mahogany wood and red leather seats, the next Gabriel was offering her a single pink rose.
He immediately impressed her. He was taller than any man she knew and she hadn’t expected Gabriel to be so nimble and silent once he made himself known.
Best of all, he was handsome as sin, with a smile that made Avery blush.
“I do believe my friends have been holding out on me,” he said in a voice that resonated without having to talk over the din of conversations going on all around the restaurant.
“Why would you say that?” Hazard asked.
“There’s a lovely woman visiting our small town for the first time and no one thought to introduce us until now?” Gabriel answered, sliding a look at Hazard. “I’m hurt, Trev, hurt.”
“You are not. You’re mad that I got Avery before you did.”
“Scoot over,” Gabriel insisted, pushing his way into the booth on Hazard’s side, still offering the rose. “I’m not mad at all…just a tad envious.”
Avery reached over and accepted the rose. It was fresh and smelled nice, with no damage whatsoever after Gabriel produced it from seemingly thin air. The stem had been shortened to six inches long and there were no thorns.
“This is pretty, thank you, Mr. Krystiyan.”
“You’re very welcome, beautiful.” That quickly, Avery knew the illusionist was a practiced flirt. Still, she loved the attention. She wasn’t sure any woman could resist his resonant voice and naturally shifted forward.
Hazard shifted in his seat. “No date tonight, Gabriel?”
“Sadly, no. I’d been seeing a ballet dancer in Vegas and things went sour,” Gabriel answered.
“Sorry to hear that,” Hazard said.
“On the surface, Francesca is beautiful. In private, she was selfish and mean. I don’t care what ballet company she’s with, it doesn’t give her the right to treat people like they’re peons sent to do her bidding.”
“Good for you for getting out before it’s too late,” Hazard commented.
“Agreed, now I can enjoy as many women as I want. But let’s not talk about my love life. I came to give you the passes for my private box tonight and thought I’d take the time to meet your lady in person.”
“Wow,” Avery uttered, truly taken in by Gabriel’s uniquely handsome features.
His light-brown skin appeared soft as silk. Long, slightly coarse jet-black hair fell all the way to his waist, making his startlingly vivid sapphire eyes sparkle. The devilish cut of goatee and mustache drew the eye to a mouth that would have been pretty on a woman, yet was incredibly sexy and extremely male.
When he’d still been standing beside the booth, Avery had taken a moment to check out his clothing style. Instead of the Vegas-style magician she might have expected, he reminded her of the lead singer in rock band.
He wore
black jeans, an expensive tee shirt torn every which way and a leather jacket over top. Best of all were his boots. Thigh-high leather encased his legs and his great height hadn’t been the product of heels. Even seated next to Hazard revealed his tremendous height and made her wonder about his ancestry.
“Cat got your tongue, beautiful?” Gabriel asked, grinning even wider.
“Apologies, Mr. Krystiyan, I was daydreaming. I’m Avery Grant. It’s lovely to meet you in person. Thank you for the tickets.”
“You’re welcome. Now, Trev, tell me about you and Avery.”
“Think it’s obvious, my man. Avery and I are here for some R and R,” Hazard said, reaching over to take her hand without bumping the pot of hot melted cheese sitting on the hot plate in the center of the table.
“What are the chances the three of us hook up after my show tonight for some dancing and fun?”
Hazard sent the other man a glare. “If Avery wants to dance, that’s fine. Flirt with her at your own peril.”
Gabriel’s smile deepened as he looked back and forth between her and Hazard.
“What do you know? The man determined to remain single found himself a girlfriend. Proud of you, my friend, you’ve a lovely lady looking at you like you’re a god. Treasure her and be thankful.”
“Avery’s the best. We’ve only recently gotten together, but I aim to do right by her.”
“You’d better. If you don’t, I’ll step in and make sure she keeps smiling like she is now. Tell me about yourself, Avery. Assuming you don’t mind if I use your first name?”
“I don’t mind,” she said, still mesmerized by Gabriel. Yes, he was gorgeous, but he possessed that indefinable magnetism that could tempt any red-blooded female on the planet.
“I’m Gabriel,” he insisted pleasantly, offering his hand. Avery shook his hand right as Jaxon showed up.
Tonight, Jaxon wore the epitome of monochromatic metrosexual style. Black pants, a narrow black tie with a black shirt, black shoes, a short, fitted coat with ultra-narrow lapels and his hair was combed back into a neat ponytail.
“Hi there, Red,” he greeted, making himself comfortable on her side of the booth.
“Hi, Jaxon, nice to see you again.”
“Right back at you. Have you been properly introduced to Dare’s resident super-stud?” Jaxon asked, arching his chin toward Gabriel.
“Yes, I have and he bore a gift,” she answered, showing off the lovely rosebud. “It was sweet of him, but I’m still trying to figure out how he materialized the rose from thin air.”
“I love when a woman’s eyes light up from even the smallest pleasures.” Jaxon eyed the rose that she’d placed on the table. “Sometimes the simplest of Gabriel’s illusions are the most stunning, but damn me for not bringing a gift.”
“Maybe too much vinegar fried your senses,” Hazard said.
“Ha, say what you will, Trev. My mama’s formula for spotless windows works every time.”
“The results weren’t the problem. It was the smell. Had to wash three times and use lemon-scented hand soap to counteract smelling like a salad when I returned to our hotel room.”
“That’s not why you were in the shower so long. Don’t think I wasn’t aware of your phone call to Red.”
“Don’t tease him, Jaxon Wynter,” Avery warned. “This is my guy you’re poking fun at.”
“I’m sorry,” Jaxon apologized. “It’s true. I always know when sex is going on, even when it happens on the phone and I’m not a part of it.”
“Can we change the subject, Jax? You’re making Avery blush.”
It was true. Avery flushed even hotter. It didn’t help that she was surrounded on all sides but one by hot men and testosterone. It must have been the high level of testosterone activating her pheromones, because right now her whole focus was sex.
Sex now, but she had to eat and she and Hazard weren’t alone. Not by a long shot.
“Again, I’m sorry, Red.”
“I’m fine, Jaxon. I’m glad your windows are clean. Your house must be amazing if it required two men on ladders to clean the windows.”
“Jaxon cleaned the regular windows himself. I did the arched, cathedral-sized window in the great room. Maybe Jaxon would be kind enough to invite you up to the mountain house before we leave Dare.”
“Only if he was comfortable with that would I go,” Avery said.
“You can come up anytime with Hazard,” Jaxon stated. “Why not make it a date for this coming Wednesday night? I’ll call up Sawyer and get him to come. We’ll have a lovely dinner, enjoy fine wine and become better acquainted.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Gabriel asked.
“Your invitation is always open,” Jaxon told him, giving the man a private look that Avery didn’t understand and decided it best not to. “Bring company, the more the merrier.”
“Great. I’ll be sure to find a date or two. There are a couple of rooms I’d like to use if you’re okay with it.”
“As long as you don’t hurt anyone and everything’s consensual, I’ll give you the keys,” Jaxon stated. “What happened to Francesca? Last time you were in town, you were dating a prima ballerina.”
“Things didn’t work out,” Gabriel answered, going on to relate the same story about his ex-girlfriend to Jaxon.
“What kind of rooms are we talking about, Hazard?” Avery asked, whispering the question to him. He squeezed her hand, his eyes landing on her face as his fingers slid up to her wrists and locked in place, exerting enough pressure to remind her of a manacle.
“Think of your brother and Ryan’s castle back home, baby. What goes on there during those exclusive parties?”
“Oh, gotcha,” she replied.
“What castle?” Gabriel questioned, overhearing them regardless of her attempt to keep her voice down.
“My brother and his husband own a bed-and-breakfast in Danvers, Massachusetts. It looks like an authentic Irish castle. My friend Morgan says it’s haunted. It’s become a travel destination, among other things.”
“If Morgan says it’s haunted, it’s haunted,” Hazard commented with conviction.
“I believe her,” Avery added. “Her abilities are amazing. Primarily she’s an expert on psychometry, touching objects and knowing their history.”
“Haunted, you say?” Jaxon chimed in. “Maybe I’ll visit this castle in the spring, Red. Especially if those things that go on privately are part of a lifestyle I follow.”
“You’ll be welcome anytime. But the special events are members-only, so you’d have to be vetted by my friend Phalen, who’s a PI.”
“Interesting, tell us more, but eat,” Gabriel insisted.
“Join us, please, both of you,” she offered, looking at Gabriel and Jaxon in turn.
Hazard agreed with her invitation and the four of them talked as they dined on excellent bread and melted-gooey cheese. The waiter noticed the crowd and brought wine for them to share. Menus were provided and the main course was ordered.
The excellent meal and conversation grounded Avery. The best part of the evening was having Hazard help her prepare bite-sized pieces of chicken, steak, pork, stuffed mushrooms and shrimp in a tasty broth.
They’d moved onto dessert, ordering up three platters of graham-cracker-covered marshmallows, mini-Rice Krispies treats, strawberries, pineapple, bites of cheesecake, brownies and fun-sized Snickers bars. It was enough dessert to feed an army.
Avery didn’t expect the arrival of another gorgeous male who waltzed up to them as if he owned the whole town. With shaggy auburn hair covered with a brown cowboy hat and matching long brown suede-and-leather coat straight out of the Old West or the movie Long Riders, the man was tall and lanky.
“Well, look who the cat dragged in,” Jaxon said. “Sawyer Hamilton, meet Avery Grant.”
“Evening, gentlemen, nice to meet you, Ms. Grant,” Sawyer said.
“Same to you, please call me Avery.”
“If you call me Sawyer,” he
agreed, removing his cowboy hat out of respect.
Taking an instant liking to the Nevadan cowboy, Avery appreciated his clean, but faded blue jeans, denim blue shirt and genuine leather boots that were scratched with age, but looked incredibly comfortable.
“I’d like that,” Avery said. “Why don’t you pull up a chair and join us for dessert?”
“Already ate down at the station, thank you. Came in to let you know that John Redman, the man who’d given you some trouble the night you arrived and yesterday morning, has checked out of his hotel this afternoon with a male companion. Neither have reservations in any of the hotels or obvious plans of returning.”
Avery looked over at Hazard. “Were you more worried about him than I thought?”
“I was concerned because something about John bothered you, baby.”
“I’m pretty sure he was watching us while we kissed yesterday morning, but his interest wasn’t sexual. For a minute, I swore he was angry at me.”
“Which is why I had Jax call Sawyer,” Hazard commented. “If anyone understands human behavior, it’s the two of them.”
“Had you seen him before, Avery?” Sawyer questioned.
“Not to my knowledge. I’d been in Reno at a PT convention all of last week. I was so busy attending workshops and events, I barely had time to visit any of the casinos or meet people other than conventioneers. I came here for some downtime before heading back to reality.”
“And then she ran into me and here we are now,” Hazard chimed in, squeezing her hand again.
“Sometimes the most unexpected things result when you’re not looking,” she responded, for a moment their three onlookers failing to exist as Hazard’s amber gaze landed on her face and heated her up in all the right ways.
“Couldn’t have said it better,” he added, giving her an unexpected wink and a grin meant entirely for her.
“John’s gone off somewhere with his new boyfriend. There’s no need to worry,” she said. “I’ve got you to look out for me and some great new friends.”
“I’m glad you feel better,” Hazard replied. “We have until Thursday before I head home to prepare for the playoffs.”
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