Caine's Curse

by Josie Dennis

  “Do you want Peter inside of you?” he asked.

  Iris lifted her head, her mouth open and her lips glistening. “Is that possible?”

  Peter nodded, gritting his teeth. “God, yes. Tell her, Caine.” He sucked in another breath. “Tell her what to do.”

  Caine still moved inside of him, but he wanted to complete the image tickling at edges of his mind. “Lay down, love. Spread your legs so they drape over the edge of the bed.”

  Peter made a sound of intense anticipation, and Iris did as Caine told her. Caine could see her sweet cunt, wet and ready for Peter.

  Leaning down, Caine bit lightly at Peter’s earlobe. “Fuck her, Peter.”

  Peter moved, using his skillful hands to lift her thighs as he positioned himself at her core. Caine stilled for a moment, waiting to Peter’s entrance.

  “Take me, sweetheart.” After a beat of a second, he plunged into her. “Ah!”

  Iris undulated on the bed as Peter rode her. Caine was inside of Peter, feeling everything his lovers did as they made love. The three of them soon moved in a rhythm of passion, their groans mingling as their pleasure spiked.

  This was another first for Caine, and undoubtedly a first for both Peter and Iris. It might be new, but it was perfect. A union he’d never before imagined. In the split second before his climax, he realized that his beast was silent. This was pleasure from Peter and Iris, and he knew he would never forget.

  As Peter bucked against Iris, spilling his seed deep inside of her, Caine realized their error. Before he could urge Peter to withdraw, he was coming himself. Hard.

  * * * *

  Iris sobbed her own release before going limp and languid on the bed. It was as if both of her men made love to her, and the sight of Caine loving Peter was something she had never imagined. How could she? She’d only given up her virginity scant days earlier.

  Peter held her then, coming to rest beside her as they both attempted to gather their wits. They were cuddled close together, Peter praising her with sweet words as she smiled dreamily at him. Caine appeared at a loss, his brows drawn together over those dark Hawk eyes.

  “Caine.” She licked her lips and pushed her tangled hair back off of her face. “Caine, is something troubling you?”

  Caine blinked, and then smiled. “How could you ask that preposterous question?”

  Peter chuckled. “Iris, we were as close as three people could get just then. I believe your wits are still addled.”

  She gave his bicep a pinch. “Never mind. I believe Caine is worried about something.”

  Peter’s expression cleared, and his eyes widened. “Damnation. I forgot myself.”

  “What do you mean?” Iris asked.

  “He came, Iris,” Caine said. “Inside of you.”

  Iris shook her head, and then it struck her. Covering her mouth with her hand, she gasped. “Oh, no.”

  Peter hugged her to his chest. “Sweetheart, it is far too early to worry over such things.”

  “There may be a child, Peter.”

  “That’s true,” Caine intoned, coming to sit on the end of the bed. “It is highly unlikely, however.”

  She noticed that Caine wasn’t touching either her or Peter, which she recognized was unusual even given how brief their liaison had been going on.

  “How unlikely?” she had to know.

  Caine shrugged. “It was but once, love.”

  She began to nod, but Peter grunted. “In my family it often takes but once.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Peter, don’t alarm her,” Caine said.

  “It needs to be said, Caine.” Peter faced her, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. “I have four sisters living in London with our widowed aunt. I daresay at least half of them might be the result of ‘but once.’”

  Caine cursed softly. “I didn’t mean to make light of this.”

  Peter seemed to lose some of his stiffness. “Iris, you will tell me should such a situation arise?”

  Iris stared into his beloved face as her mind worked. A child? From this illicit connection? What would happen to her?

  “Of course,” she answered.

  “Although I believe worry is unwarranted at this point, I make you both this promise,” Caine said. “If there is a child, he or she would be my responsibility, as well.”

  “Yours?” Iris gaped at him. “Whyever should that be?”

  Caine winced, and she nearly bit her tongue. His expression smoothed, and he seemed to withdraw further. “That was my cock deep inside of you, Iris. I came very close to spilling my seed, as well.”

  Tears pricked at her eyes, and she covered her face with both hands now. “This is too much.”

  Peter’s strong arms encircled her, and he kissed her temple. “Do not fret, Iris.”

  Caine settled on her other side, the weight and breadth of his body as comforting to her as Peter’s. “We have this now, Iris. If we have something more? We’ll face that, as well.”

  She lowered her hands to find both of her men regarding her with tenderness. Peter’s love was clear to her in that instance, an answer to her own. Caine’s gaze was affectionate to be sure, but did he love her? Moreover, did she love him?

  Her heart raced as alarm shot through her. What had she done?

  “Iris, are you going to be all right?” Peter asked, stroking her cheek.

  She had to be, didn’t she? She had no one, despite both of their assertions to the opposite. She wouldn’t think about having a child. That was something she couldn’t worry over at the moment. No. She had to think about the fact that she was deeply in love with both of her men. And wasn’t that a quandary in and of itself?

  “I will be fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “I just made love with both of you at the same time.”

  Caine chuckled, lifting the cloud that had seemed to drift in over the three of them over the past few minutes. “Not precisely, but you shall.”

  Thankful to Caine for turning her thoughts to something much more intriguing, she sat up eagerly. “Do tell me how that would work?”

  Peter smiled, his pretty eyes sparkling. “Sweetheart, you are amazing. I can scarcely believe I’m so fortunate to have found you both.”

  Iris considered his words. Did Peter love them both, as well? Caine was an enigma. A Hawk, for goodness sake. His heart was deeply buried, wasn’t it?

  She felt too good at the moment to worry over such matters of hearts and love. Settling back down between them, she closed her eyes and breathed in. The room was comfortably warm, which was good because their bodies had cooled since their spectacular release. Sleep beckoned, a blissful rest in the arms of her men. In the corner of her mind, a truth whispered. She loved the both of them, but that would be a secret she held close.

  If she never admitted that truth to Peter or Caine? She could never be hurt.

  Chapter Nine

  Peter polished Caine’s boots after he’d gone shooting with Michael Crowley. Mud was nothing to him, and he lost himself in the work. Nearly a week had passed since that troubling conversation in Caine’s bed, and the three of them had been together every day. They’d had to be creative in a fashion, as Iris had soon discovered there would be no child from Peter’s blunder. Their girl had been very pleased to watch Caine and Peter love each other, and then they’d kissed and cuddled her until she was weak in their arms.

  Peter whistled as he finished his work on Caine’s boots.

  “I daresay I can see my face in those,” the earl’s valet said as he joined him.

  “Hello, Philip.” Peter sat back, eyeing the boots in Philip’s hands. “I take it the earl accompanied Mr. Crowley and Lord Burnley?”

  Philip smiled. “Apparently so.”

  They worked in companionable silence, and Peter couldn’t help but feel nostalgic for this connection to others of his station. That thought sat sour in his belly, since that brought the awareness that Caine was far above both him and Iris. Wasn’t he shining C
aine’s very boots today? It was unsettling, as over the past weeks he’d come to realize that he cared for Caine as much as he did for Iris.

  His throat grew thick as he came to a realization he’d been patently ignoring since first entering into this arrangement. He stood to lose a lot more than a lover or two when this was over. He stood to lose everything.

  “What a muddle,” he muttered.

  “What’s that, Peter?” Philip asked. “Is something wrong?”

  Peter looked at the earl’s valet and gave a quick shake of his head. “Nothing is wrong. Just realizing something I should have known all along.”

  Iris chose that particular moment to come gliding into the servants’ hall. He caught her sweet scent first, and then fell into her soft violet gaze.

  “I have some wonderful news, Peter.”

  Peter glanced at Philip in alarm, and found the valet staring at Iris. Bringing his gaze back to her, he found her flushed and lovely, and sensually alluring even in her sober uniform.

  She began to open her mouth again, to say the good Lord knew what, when she spied Philip sitting there. “Oh!”

  Philip smiled, all dimpled and handsome. “Good news, Iris? Do tell. I could use a smile today.”

  Iris worried her lower lip, and then waved a hand. “Why is that, Philip?”

  Philip rolled his eyes heavenward. “The earl has been at sixes and sevens for days now. Surely you’ve seen it.”

  “I have.” Iris kept her face averted from Peter’s as she spoke with Philip, no doubt to keep the man from sensing anything between them. “I suppose it’s to be expected.”

  Peter laughed at her turn of phrase, and she joined him. Philip looked from one to the other, his eyes narrowed. Then he seemed to catch on.

  “Well done, Iris.”

  There was a warmth in the man’s tone that didn’t sit well with Peter, but he sought to ignore it.

  “What was this about news?” Peter asked her.

  Her eyes sparkled prettily at him as she tilted her head to the side. “Just that the clouds have cleared.”

  Peter knew then that her woman’s time was past. His body hardened as he realized what that meant to the three of them. They would surely make up for any lost time by taking her every which way they could imagine.

  “Clear skies, then?” he quipped, dropping a wink.

  Her cheeks pinkened and she nodded.

  “What are you saying, Iris?” Philip said. “It’s quite hot today, and we’ll no doubt get a storm this afternoon.”

  “Philip, you must learn to look on the brighter side of things,” she returned. “Rain in the afternoon? I daresay that will be lovely.”

  “Rain clouds are quite welcome, then,” Peter added.

  Philip shook his head. “You two are daft.”

  When the man focused on his task once more, Peter and Iris shared a long look of warmth that took his breath. He did love her. And Caine, as well. What did she feel for him? If she loved Caine, Peter would have to step aside. He was the far better match for her, his being leagues above both her and himself.

  “Peter, what’s wrong?” Iris asked.

  Peter looked at the earl’s valet, who didn’t bother to lift his head. “Don’t bother asking him, Iris. Apparently nothing is wrong despite his dour expression.”

  Neither Peter nor Iris said anything to that.

  Later that evening, when he was deep inside of her and barely holding on to his control, he savored every inch of her. Her skin was heated and slick. Her scent was hot and all around him. Her hands stroked his arms and her legs wrapped around his waist.

  As he pounded into her, Caine licked and sucked her nipples. Her head thrashed on the pillow as they overwhelmed her.

  “Lean back a bit, Peter,” Caine said, kissing down her belly.

  Peter’s breath caught as Caine used his fingers to bare her clit. Iris moaned low and long as Caine bent his head and stroked his tongue over her. Peter caught a bit of it, too, as Caine used the rough edge to make them both mad. The added pleasure was enough to drive Iris over the edge

  “Oh!” She gasped and arched wildly.

  Peter knew he should withdraw. It was of the utmost importance. Yet the feel of her pulsing around him, the touch of Caine’s tongue, had him tamping down the desire to pour himself into her.

  “Christ, I’m close.” He took a deep breath and braced his hands very close to her narrow hips. “Damnation.”

  He withdrew at the last possible second, spilling on her belly as Caine grinned at him.

  “Are you mad?” he asked Caine with a smile of his own.

  Caine laughed. “It’s quite diverting to tease the two of you.”

  Iris was only just coming down from her climax, tiny tremors shaking her body.

  “Oh, that mouth of yours.” She, too, took in a deep breath. “Caine, you nearly killed me. Your clever mouth and Peter’s lovely cock.”

  Peter’s smile widened. “Lovely? I’ll take that.”

  “Don’t be insulted,” Caine said. “You’re hung like an ox and you well know it.”

  “Hung?” Iris asked.

  “It means he’s big, love,” Caine explained. “Even bigger than I am, and I’m a Hawk.”

  Peter caught his breath at last and fell on the bed beside her. “What say you, Iris? Whose do you prefer?”

  He’d meant it as a jest, but the seriousness of her expression startled him.

  “I prefer both of you,” she admitted on a whisper.

  Caine looked at Peter, his smile gone. Peter couldn’t read his expression at the moment, actually.

  “Then it’s a good thing you have us both,” Peter said at last.

  Caine said nothing as he began to kiss and pet Iris anew. He sent her to the edge and over, and brought her back to settle between them.

  As Peter let himself relax, intense satisfaction drugging every limb, he knew he and Caine would have to speak about where all of this was leading and soon.

  Otherwise, there was no way to avoid the heartache coming for her. And for himself.

  * * * *

  The next morning Caine couldn’t dispel the sensation that trouble was headed his way. He’d dreamed that he was lost in the woods behind Burnley Court. It was dark. It was cold. And it was lonely. When he woke, he felt an emptiness that had nothing to do with the loss of his mother or his unknown father. It was all about the loss of love, something he’d never before imagined held any value or pertinence to him. Reeves had never once mentioned emotion when he’d spoken of the Hawk legacy.

  It was surely the curse. His damned beast had been all but silent over the past weeks, no doubt pleased into submission by his lovers. How long would that continue? He had no hope that he was cured of his Hawk’s affliction. He’d tumbled into his liaison with Peter and Iris. Surely nothing so simple, so perfect and beautiful, would last. And thus his curse would persist into his own foreseeable future.

  “What are you about this day?” Peter asked as he entered the chamber.

  Caine shrugged. “Another day of leisure, I imagine. Michael Crowley has already left for the village. On some errand or other for the countess.”

  Peter nodded and went through Caine’s clothing. “I suppose you’ll go riding.”

  “More than likely.”

  He dressed Caine with his usual care, and then stood back. There was nothing out of the ordinary in their conversation, yet Caine caught something in Peter’s tone. His jovial brightness was decidedly absent.

  “Peter, what’s wrong?”

  Peter cursed softly. “If one more person asks me that question, I may run screaming over the moors.”

  “What’s this?”

  Peter blew out a breath. “Caine, we have to talk.”

  Caine’s heart pounded at Peter’s words. “About?”

  Peter leveled a look at him, and Caine held up his hands.

  “Yes, yes. I know,” Caine said. “All morning I’ve been thinking of Iris’s words last evening. She
prefers the both of us?”

  “Do you doubt it?”

  Caine shook his head. “No. I can well believe it, since she seems to lose herself no matter which of us take her.”

  “It’s not just sexual, Caine. At least, I don’t believe so.”

  Caine’s belly twisted. “Her heart, you mean?”

  Peter nodded. “And not only hers.”

  Caine froze. “Never say yours.”

  Peter dragged a hand through his hair. “I love her, Caine. And you.”

  Caine turned away from him. “You can’t mean that last, Peter.”

  Peter was silent for a long moment. “Believe that if you must.” His voice was clipped. Strange.

  Caine turned back to him. “Peter, what do you want from me?”

  Peter’s open and dear expression grew cloudy. “If you don’t know, then I can’t help you.”

  “You’ll take her, then?” Caine swallowed thickly. “Marry her?”

  “Caine, you cannot be serious!” Peter began to pace. “I am in no position to take a wife. I have my sisters and aunt to support, damn it.”

  “I can help you.”

  “With your famously ample Hawk money?” He snorted. “I think not.”

  “You will let your pride get in the way of your living your life?”

  “What of it? You’re letting your curse get in your way, aren’t you?” Peter stood there, his hands in fists, before shaking his head. “If there is nothing else you need, my lord?”

  Nothing else? Oh, Caine needed much, but he couldn’t put it into words at present. “Nothing, thank you.”

  And with that, Peter was gone. All of it was gone.

  That was completely unexpected. Taken with his confounding conversation with Michael Crowley the other day, Caine was not ready to consider any matters of the heart. He did need to do something, however. He would go to Gabriel and make certain that provisions were made for Iris and Peter. Two people that much in love should be together, even if he continued out in the dismal cold.

  Determination firm in his breast, he left his chamber in search of the earl. Carstairs directed him to Gabriel’s study.