by Vicki Savage
“Aren’t you coming with us?” I asked Collette as she started to close the door behind us.
“Oh, no, child.” She smiled at Claude. “I have far too much work to do. You three enjoy yourselves. I will be back a little later to answer any questions you may have.”
She shut the door with an ominous thud, and I glanced around the large room full of barrels, casks, and other wine equipment.
While I was no stranger to the art of making wine, my knowledge paled in comparison to Claude and Brice. They explained the process, pointing out details and answering questions as they came up. We must have spent well over an hour talking about different vintages and the impact of weather before Claude stopped in front of the large door.
“And here is where the magic happens.” He threw open the door, revealing the grapevine-filled landscape that sprawled out from the shed.
“It’s breathtaking,” I whispered as I soaked in the view.
“Not as breathtaking as you,” Brice murmured.
I flashed him a questioning glance, but Claude was already pulling me into the fields.
“Are we allowed out here?” I asked.
“Of course.” We wandered the maze of vines for a long time, stopping here and there for Claude to point out a small detail or tell a story from his youth. As the minutes passed, I started to enjoy myself. That is, until I noticed that Brice had been unusually quiet.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as Claude went on ahead to scout out a place to rest.
“It’s fine.’ He smiled, but I noticed that it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
I stopped walking and turned to face him. “No, something’s wrong.” When he didn’t immediately answer, I rubbed my arms and glanced around us. “This is all quite beautiful, but I still don’t see why you brought me here.” I shook my head as my gaze returned to him. “I don’t see how any of this has to do with me.”
“It has everything to do with you, Maggie.” Brice took my hands kissed them. “Haven’t you been listening?”
I frowned and tightened my grip on his fingers. “I have, but I don’t understand. . .”
He glanced over his shoulder and then inched closer. “Listen, I need to tell you something, but I’m not sure how you’ll react to it.”
I ducked my head and held his gaze. “What is it?”
He moistened his lips. “When I first saw you, up on the Eiffel Tower—”
At that moment Claude’s voice rose up from just over a small hill. “I’ve found it!”
Brice relaxed his shoulders and stepped back. “Later. He’s waiting.” Brice tugged me toward the hill, and I knew I had no choice but to follow.
“This is it,” Claude said as we joined him.
“This is what?”
“What I wanted you to see, of course.” He waved his hand out toward the horizon. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
We had spent most of the day traveling to and touring the winery. The sun had begun to drop over the trees, casting a red and orange hue across the vines that dotted the landscape below.
“It’s gorgeous,” I whispered.
Claude nudged Brice and slid his arm around my shoulders. “See? It is the best view in all of France.” He squeezed my arm as Brice came up on the other side of me.
“Claude’s family is very lucky,” he said.
“What is mine is yours, my friend. You know that.” Claude inched his fingers down my body until they rested along my waist.
“Do you two have an agreement?” I asked.
“You could say that.” Brice turned to face me. “When Claude found me, it was after I had served a double tour in Afghanistan. I was . . . rather lost.”
“Ah, but we managed to find you again, didn’t we?” Claude winked and grinned at Brice.
Brice’s features softened. “That you did, my friend.”
“What happened?” I turned to face Brice, suddenly curious.
“Claude rescued me,” Brice explained as Claude slid his large hands around my waist.
“Rescued you? From who?”
“From myself.”
Claude leaned down until his lips hovered over my ear. “It is my specialty.” He flicked his tongue over my lobe. Tingles spread out over my skin and rippled through my body.
“There is a healing quality to this winery, Maggie,” Brice said as he turned out and faced the horizon. “Can you feel it?”
Desire surged through my bloodstream as Claude scraped his teeth against my ear. “Yes,” I whispered.
“This is a special place,” Brice said. “A private place.”
Claude slid his fingers up and cupped my breast. “In all the years my family has owned it, only Brice has visited these vines out behind the house.” He pinched my nipple, causing a ribbon of need to wrap around my core. “It is too personal to show to everyone.”
“Then why am I—”
“You need this place, Maggie. Just like I needed this place.” Brice turned to face me. “The magic here can help you find your true self. All you have to do is open yourself up and embrace it.”
Claude pinched my nipple again, sending jolts of pleasure through my body. I reached for Brice, who smiled and took both my hands in his.
“Are you ready to be healed?” he asked as he kissed each of my hands.
“Yes.” I closed my eyes and moistened my lips as Claude moved his free hand between my legs. “God, yes.”
Brice stepped forward as Claude squeezed my mound. “You are worthy, Maggie.”
“I know.”
He shook his head. “You may say the words, but you don’t believe them.” He palmed my cheek and tilted his head. “I don’t care how long it takes, or how many times we need to love you. You are special, Maggie. Don’t ever let anyone tell you different.”
I started to respond, but then he pressed his lips against mine. Desire curled through my bloodstream, causing me to lose all rational thought. The men caressed my body, fueling my desire with every brush of their fingers. When I parted my lips, Brice slid his tongue in my mouth. He tasted so sweet, so masculine. I sighed against him as he hiked up my dress and skimmed his fingers along my thigh.
Not to be forgotten, Claude nipped my ear and pressed his hips into my ass. His thick cock rubbed up against my backside, and I imagined him pushing himself deep inside of me, filling me.
I shivered and reached behind my head. Grasping Claude’s hair, I pulled him closer to my skin, loving the way his tongue darted along the edges of my ear and neck.
The men moved my skirt up around my waist and pulled my panties. Claude nibbled at the base of my neck as Brice stepped back and unzipped his pants.
“Tell us what you want, Maggie.”
“What I want?”
He eased his large cock out of his pants and began to stroke himself. “Yes, what you want.”
I dropped my gaze to his fingers and moistened my lips. “I want to taste you, Brice.”
“And what about me?” Claude asked. “What do you want me to do?”
I turned my head so I could meet his gaze. “I want you to fill me, Claude. I want to feel every inch of your cock inside my body.”
The large Frenchman shivered and nibbled my lower lip. I tugged on his hair, loving how he teased my mouth. After a few, long moments, he pulled away, leaving me feeling adrift.
“I’m over here, Maggie.”
As I turned to Brice, his features softened. “My body is yours,” he said.
Pulling away from Claude, I dropped to my knees and grabbed the base of Brice’s shaft. I slid my tongue over the tip, then down the length, loving how his sweet moans filled the air between us. He fisted his fingers into my hair as I worked, directing my movements over his cock. When he was sufficiently wet, I wrapped my lips around his head and pushed him toward the back of my throat.
“That’s it, Maggie.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back in bliss. “God, you feel incredible.”
I used my tongue and my lips to ple
asure him, first going slow, then picking up speed. He tightened his grip in my hair and thrust his hips, pushing himself inside my mouth as far as he could go.
“You two look amazing,” Claude said after a long moment. “Silhouetted against the setting sun. It is more perfect than a painting in a museum.”
I slowed my movements and turned my head toward him. He had already pulled down his jeans and had been stroking his thick cock as he watched.
“Care to join us?” I asked.
He twisted his lips into a half smile. “Nothing would give me more pleasure, but only if you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” I said. “I’m more than ready.”
“I am at your service, Maggie.” Claude pulled a condom out of his pocket and moved out of my range of vision. “Always.”
Chapter Four
I gasped as Claude grabbed my hips and pulled me to my feet.
“Easy now.” Brice pushed my hair from my face and slid his fingers down my cheeks. I stroked him a couple of times, causing him to groan. Then I stopped as Claude lifted my skirt and slid his fingers over my ass.
“So lovely.” He curled his fingers into my flesh, causing me to go up on my toes. Then he lightly slapped my ass cheek. A spark of pain shot through my system, and I groaned as my desire heightened. As I set my feet back on the ground, he slipped his hand in between my thighs.
“Ah, I love how wet you get with us.” He slapped my other ass cheek with his free hand, sending up another bolt of pleasure.
“I think she likes it rough,” Brice said.
“Does she?” Claude slapped me again. I closed my eyes and arched my back, pushing my backside closer.
“Amazing,” Claude whispered. “I never imagined.”
“She’s perfect,” Brice murmured. “Just perfect.”
I dragged his cock back into my mouth and caressed his length, making sure to push my tongue up along the sensitive underside of his length. Brice pressed his lips together and made a low, animalistic sound as he moved his fingers back up into my hair.
“That’s right,” he whispered as he tugged on my hair. “Just like that.”
Claude positioned himself against my opening. As I pushed down Brice’s length, Claude entered me, pushing deep into my center until his hips slapped against my backside.
Claude mumbled something in French and dug his fingers into my hips. “She’s so wet.”
“I know.” Brice tightened his grip in my hair. “She’s amazing.”
Together the men thrust into my body. Brice tugged up on my hair, loosening my throat so he could go deeper. I loved the rough treatment, wanted more of it. When Claude slapped my ass again, I was more than ready.
“Fuck.” Claude retreated and thrust again. Brice matched his movements. Both men moved slowly, savoring the moment, each of them slapping or pulling when they drove those last inches home.
“Do you want us to fill you, Maggie?” Claude asked. “Do you want our seed?”
I couldn’t speak, so I nodded my head. For all of the sex we had last night, neither man had orgasmed. I wanted nothing more in the world than for both of them to experience the pleasure they had given me.
“I think that’s a yes,” Brice said.
“Then you shall get your wish.” The men thrust together, moving slow at first, then faster and faster. I slid my fingers up over Brice’s hips and dug them into his skin. He responded by tightening his grip on my hair and steeling his jaw. Something passed over his features, something primal and hungry. He thrust harder into my mouth, as if he were chasing some unseen goal.
I widened my stance, allowing Claude to thrust deeper. He groaned and quickened the pace, slapping my flesh as he drove himself up into my body. Tension built, and my entire body tightened with need. Things seemed almost surreal here in the vineyard, as if it was some deep, torrid fantasy come to life.
I wanted to please these men, to watch them lose control. Knowing that they were taking pleasure in my body, not someone else’s, only heightened my desire. I started moving against them, making low, throaty sounds as they filled my body again and again. Then Claude reached down and slid his fingers over my clit. The added sensation was just what I needed. My world exploded, and pleasure filled every crevice of my body. I loosened my grip on Brice’s hips and rode out the sensations, never wanting it to end.
Brice arched his back. His movements became more jerky and desperate. He tightened his grip on my hair and whispered my name as he exploded into my mouth, filling me with every drop of passion he felt.
He tasted salty, yet sweet. I drank all of him, wanting him to feel the intense joy he had given me. As his thrusts slowed and his grip on my hair loosened, I could tell that the intensity of his orgasm had taken him a little by surprise.
Claude grunted and thrust faster, harder. With a roar he exploded, pushing himself deep inside my body and giving me everything he had. Again and again he filled me, driving me up onto my toes as he emptied himself inside my core.
“That was amazing,” Claude said as he retreated and helped me to stand.
“Yeah.” I felt as if I should have said something more coherent, but words escaped me. Amazing seemed not good enough. Having two men lose themselves in passion felt empowering and life-changing. Brice was right. I hadn’t really believed I was worthy. After years of verbal abuse from my ex-husband, and then again with Robert, it seemed as if I expected men to treat me as if I was something less than human. Claude and Brice had given me a wonderful gift. Together, they had showed me that I was a human being with needs and desires. Never again would I let someone treat me that way. I was my own person now and worthy of respect and love.
“Don’t you think it was amazing, Brice?” Claude asked as he disposed of the condom.
Brice pulled on his pants and avoided my gaze. “Yeah, sure was.” He turned his back to Claude and me. “I’ll meet you back at the car.”
I started after Brice, but Claude put a hand on my arm, stopping me.
“Let him go.”
“But he seems upset.”
“Brice is just being Brice. He’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean?”
Claude let go of my arm. His expression seemed almost remorseful. “Brice hasn’t had a lot of love in his life. In fact, much of his emotions were repressed, first with his strict military family, then with his military career.” Claude crossed his arms. “It took a lot of courage for him to come out to his family as bisexual, and when he did, they disowned him.”
“No.” I put my hand to my throat and turned back to where Brice had left moments before. “But that doesn’t explain—”
“After the incident with his family, Brice went and joined the army.” Claude shook his head. “The man took a lot of stupid risks, which got him a lot of medals, but also put his life in danger. One risk landed him in the hospital. That was where I found him.”
“What were you. . .?”
Claude smiled. “I volunteer at the army hospital in my spare time.” He shrugged. “Call it a passion.” He smirked. “Nothing makes my heart sing more than caring for an injured soldier.” He slipped his arm around my shoulder. “Come.”
I thought about what Claude had said as we walked back to the car. “Was Brice hurt bad?”
“He got shot in the leg.” He tapped his outer right thigh. “Right here.”
“I see. That’s why he limps.”
“Yes. The physical wound wasn’t so bad. It was the mental wound that was so heartbreaking.”
“Mental wound?”
“When I had found him, Brice had lost the will to live.” Claude tightened his grip around my shoulders. “I had never seen someone so lost in all of my days.” He slowed his steps. “When I saw him, I knew I could help him.” He smiled at something off in the distance, as if lost in his own memory. “I helped him heal physically, then when he was discharged from the hospital, I took him back home and helped him heal mentally.”
“You he
lped him come to terms with his bisexuality?” I asked.
Claude nodded. “I could relate to a lot of what he was going through. Together, we found the support we needed in each other. When he finally healed, he decided to stay on and help me with my work.”
“So tonight he. . .”
Claude stopped walking and turned to face me. “Tonight was typical Brice. Whenever things get too intense, whenever he begins to feel too much, he runs away.” Claude let out a long breath. “I think it goes back to his family and how he was raised. Boys were to be aloof and stern. Tears were unacceptable. Hugging was unacceptable.”
“How awful.”
“Hey.” Claude hooked his finger under my chin. “He’ll come around. He just needs a few minutes to gather himself together.”
“You’re so understanding. I can see why he loves you.”
“He cares for you too. I saw it in the way he looked at you. What happened tonight doesn’t normally happen to us. I think things got too intense too fast—for both of us.”
“But you’re not running away,” I joked.
“No.” He shifted his gaze to my lips and leaned in close. “My coping mechanism is slightly different from Brice’s.”
As soon as his lips brushed against mine, I could hear his sister calling from a short distance away. “Claude! There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you! How was the tour?”
“Wonderful.” Claude dropped his hand and stepped back to smile at his sister. “Simply wonderful.”
We said our good-byes to his sister and walked the rest of the way to the car. True to his word, Brice stood next to the passenger’s side door, waiting for us.
“Are you all right?” I asked as Claude hugged his sister a final time.
“I’m fine, Maggie. Honest.” When I didn’t move away, he patted my arm. “I just needed a few minutes by myself.”
I nodded and got into the car. Within minutes we were on our way back to the café in Paris. As we traveled along the winding roads, I couldn’t help but think about Claude and Brice and how I didn’t really know either one of them as well as I had thought.