by Lila Rose
Fuck. I was blown away by what I’d heard. I never knew. It explained why Liberty had a hard exterior. She’d had a loveless, painful start, except for Jade in her life.
“Will you continue?” Liam asked, voicing what I was wondering.
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“I’ll organise a meeting with her. I’ll be there to let her know you’re bankrupt, so you have nothing left to give her.”
“Chance, Dane and I would like to pay off any debt Libby owes. Parking fines, speeding tickets. Everything to keep her out of jail,” Jade offered.
“What? No! I won’t accept that,” Libby demanded.
I gripped her hand. When she looked to me, I said, “Let her do it. I wish I could, but you know I just bought a house.”
“You did? When, where?” Jade asked.
“I’ll tell you later, sis.” I rolled my eyes and looked back to Liberty. “I don’t want you to serve any time for something you’ve done to protect your mum. You did it out of the goodness of your heart so you shouldn’t be punished for it.” I sighed. “Though, I think you need to learn your lesson for all the bloody speeding and parking fines.”
“I agree,” Liam said. “Which is why I’ll be appealing to the court on Miss Long’s behalf, stating the full amount will be paid off. But a penalty of losing her licence for six months and community service for four months will be appointed to Miss Long.” He raised a brow at my woman, waiting for her to argue. I was proud when she bit the inside of her cheek and took the punishment. “Miss Lewis, you and your men will not be paying for any of Miss Long’s debt. I will be.” Liberty gasped. Jade’s eyes widened, and I clenched my jaw. What was this guy playing at? “A weekly deduction will be taken out of her pay until the debt is paid in full.”
Damn. He was good. I knew Liberty would prefer that idea over her best friend and fellas paying. At least then Liberty could work off the debt, and she wasn’t taking the full amount from my sister without anything in return.
“Okay,” Liberty agreed.
“Good. I’ll get everything set up.” Liam stood.
Jade called out, “Wait. I think celebrating Liberty staying out of jail is called for. Chance, Dane?” Once they stepped into the kitchen, Jade grinned. “Since we’re not helping Liberty out the way we wanted, we’d like to take everyone out for some drinks and pay for them as well.”
“I don’t—” Liberty started.
“No,” Jade bit out. “It was very nice for Liam to come around and help.”
Liberty rolled her eyes. “Fine. A few drinks.” She looked to me. “Are you okay with that?”
“Sure, babe.” I nodded. I was grateful Liam had stepped in. Then again, my gut churned; I had a feeling he was planning something, and that something centred around trying to get my woman.
Hours and a couple of drinks later, I sat in the booth with Liam while Liberty walked Jade, Chance, and Dane to the front of the pub to say goodbye.
“I want Liberty,” Liam stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I snorted and coughed. “And I want to ride a magical unicorn, but that just ain’t going to happen.” I smirked and then took a swig of my beer. My hands shook. I knew he was planning something, but fuck, I never expected him to come right out and say it.
At least he wasn’t going behind my back.
He shifted, his elbows landing on the table and he absently played with the beer bottle in front of him. “Your sister certainly seems happy with two partners.”
Tensing, I placed my beer on the table and straightened. “It’s worked out well for her. They both love her a lot and are willing to share.”
He lifted his gaze from his drink to mine and raised his brow.
Shit. He wanted to share my woman. Only the way his gazed fixed on me, I couldn’t help but wonder it if was more than that.
Gulp.
Suddenly there was a small part, and I meant the smallest like an ant-sized penis, was intrigued by the idea.
Then there was the fact I saw the way Liberty looked at the man next to me. The sexual tension was high between the two, and even though it pissed me way the fuck off knowing my woman was attracted to another man, I also understood it.
They worked close together, he was a good-looking guy, and he obviously cared for her. Shit, he was willing to do something I wished I could afford to do for her with nothing in return. Except, I knew my woman, so I knew she’d want to pay him back, every goddamn cent, which would mean being in each other’s lives for a hell of a long time.
Shaking my head, I scoffed and took another long swig of my beer.
Was I actually thinking of letting this guy be with my woman?
Christ, was I losing my mind?
That wasn’t how things went. It wasn’t normal.
Yet, my sister was the happiest I had ever seen her.
Still, I knew that had a lot to do with the connection the three of them had. I’d seen the looks Dane and Chance shared. They were as close to each other as they were to Jade.
And that wasn’t me.
I didn’t do dudes.
So it couldn’t work.
I’d be too worried if she’d like him more than me. Hell, it could happen. I was a lowly mailman, and Liam was a fucking lawyer.
Frowning, I shook my head again and slouched in the seat. “Nope. She’s my woman.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why wouldn’t you share her when I know you’ve seen Liberty and I have feelings for each other? Right now they may be small, but I’m sure they could build into something big and amazing.”
“I don’t like to share.”
“Her best friend, your sister, is proof enough something like this could work.”
“It’s different for them. Jesus, why are we even talking about this?”
“Because I don’t want to see you hurt. She loves you, but she also cares for me.”
Groaning, I rubbed my hand over my face. Where in the hell was Liberty?
“Is it because Chance and Dane are… intimate, you think that’s the only way it could work for three people?”
I shrugged. Liam Michaels was fucking with my head.
“You and I don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he said, his voice low.
My head jerked back and I whispered harshly, “Anything I don’t want to? Does that mean you’d want to do things with me? You already thought about this?”
His lips twitched. “I’ve been with a man in the past. You’re…” He flicked his gaze up and down my body, and again, I suddenly felt naked. “…appealing.”
I snorted. “Fuck appealing, I’m hot.”
Shut the fuck up, idiot.
Liam’s chuckle was deep. “That also.”
My hands started to sweat. The guy had been checking me out at my sister’s place.
Why did that kind of make my stomach twist in pleasure?
Fucking hell.
Again there’s the ant-sized penis of intrigue growing inside of me.
Actually, nope, it was the beer controlling my mind. It made me confused. Maybe the third beer wasn’t the best option.
“Have you ever….” Liam tilted his head to the side.
“No,” I just about yelled. “I’m all about pussy.”
“I love women also. Nothing better than sinking my dick into a tight snatch or taking my time while going down on them.”
Shit. His words were giving me a semi. A visual of him doing that to Liberty popped into my head.
Crap, my semi just went full-on hard.
Why would watching my woman with another man get me going?
A hand landed on my thigh. I jumped and looked to Liam. “You all right there?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I laughed. “Fine. All good.” I nodded, picked up my beer and drank the last of it down. Then I realised his hand was still on my thigh. I bounced my leg up and down, hoping he’d get the hint to take it off.
Only it moved closer to my junk.
My dick pulsed.
My dick was only thinking his hand was a woman’s hand and I was about to get lucky with a hand job. My stupid dick didn’t know the difference. Yeah, that was it.
Pulling my collar out from my neck, I gulped back some air. It was fucking hot in there. I needed some fresh air.
I glanced at Liam, who seemed cool and calm, drinking his beer in his fucking expensive suit, acting like he didn’t have his hand on my thigh close to my idiot dick. I needed to grab his hand and shove it off. Tell him to fuck off. I wasn’t into a dude touching me and yet when I felt his pinkie finger brush the tip of my dick, it pulsed, and I bit down on my tongue.
What in the hell was I doing letting him touch me like that?
It was weird.
“So,” Liam began. My body jolted, and my gaze met his heated one. “You’ve never been with a guy?” I shook my head. I wasn’t capable of words.
Shove his hand away.
For fuck’s sake, pick it up and get it off you.
My chest rose and fell rapidly as Liam leaned closer, dipped his voice lower and said, “If we weren’t here in this bar, I would have your cock in my mouth, sucking you off.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
My dick jerked. The fucker liked the idea.
“I wouldn’t mind teaching you a few things, Damien.”
I shook my head.
He chuckled. “You sure?” I nodded. “Hmm, doesn’t seem like it to me.” It was then he laid his hand over my hard cock and stroked it up and down. For a second, I closed my eyes, then opened them quickly and scooted around the booth to stand as Liberty appeared out of nowhere. I adjusted my tee over my jeans and yelled, “Babe, we’d better get going. Work tomorrow.”
“Sure.” She smiled and pecked me on the lips.
Hell, all I could think about was that I wanted to grab my junk and rub it raw. It pulsated. I needed to come, and I knew it’d be long and hard when I did.
Liberty leaned over the table and hugged Liam. “Thank you again,” I heard her say. She pulled back and went to straighten when Liam placed his hand on her cheek. His eyes traced over her face.
Shit. He did care for her. It was plain to see in his eyes.
“Never keep things from anyone again, Liberty,” he said, and I watched as he glided his thumb over her bottom lip. She stiffened, knowing I was there witnessing it. Maybe I should have pulled her back and growled she was mine, but seeing it, rather than anger floating through me or possession for Liberty, interest spiked low in my gut.
What was wrong with me?
Liberty stood and took my hand, her grip firm. Her brows were drawn down in confusion. Liam hadn’t acted like that before. I wondered what she thought of it.
“See you tomorrow,” Liam confirmed. Liberty nodded, and I sent him a small chin lift before steering Liberty away.
Chapter Three
Liam
Christ. I’d rushed it. I shouldn’t have come across so goddamn forward. Especially since he’d said he only did pussy. Though, after seeing his erection, I hadn’t been so sure, and I knew he would be thinking about it also. Still, I fucked up when I’d told him I’d suck him off and grabbed his erection.
I could only hope I didn’t scare him.
When I brought up sharing Liberty, he sat there for a while thinking. At least it wasn’t a straight-out no. The only reason I knew he would have thought about it was because he saw the heat between his girlfriend and myself.
I’d been in lust with Liberty since the day she waltzed into my office and told me she needed a job. I gave her one and was glad I had. Even though she drove me fucking crazy, I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.
I wanted her to be mine. My lust soon grew to love, where I enjoyed each day coming to work. It was no longer a chore. Seeing Liberty at her desk each day lessoned the annoyance I had over working long hours. I was a novice at flirting and knew I shouldn’t share lingering looks or touches with a woman who was taken. But I couldn’t seem to help myself, and the feeling was shared. Even when I saw the guilt in her eyes when she’d smile, wink, or laugh with me. She felt guilty because of Damien, and I didn’t like that.
I’d been stupid not making my move.
Then again, I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to do anything about our attraction. I’d come from a divorce, a hellish one, and back then, I hated every woman on the planet. That was until Liberty Long walked into my life. Never had I heard a woman speak her mind, tell me where to go, and use the word fuck without a care in the world.
What Liberty and Damien didn’t know was that I already knew of Damien. He went to the same gym I had when they’d first started dating. I’d overheard him speaking to Liberty on the phone. He hadn’t seen me, and I made sure it stayed that way. Didn’t mean I couldn’t look and admire. It had been so long since my eyes lingered on a man and I was surprised the man I gazed on with an extra slow appraisal was Liberty’s. It was that day I often thought about what it would be like to be with both of them. In fact, it was many nights after that day I masturbated over the image of them both in my bed.
I hadn’t been lying to Damien when I said I’d been with a man before. Didn’t matter it was only the one before I married over ten years ago. I knew I enjoyed it and I knew from watching Damien work out I would enjoy his body. Touching, tasting, doing many things to his body just like I wanted to do to Liberty also.
Hell, I was still hard from simply touching Damien’s leg.
Christ, I hoped I hadn’t scared him away.
Liberty would lighten my life. She already did at work. I wished for it at home also, that was if I could get her to where I wanted. In my bed, in my heart, and life, forever. She was sweet, yet tough, smart, thoughtful, and fuck, she was stunning. Still, I also knew if Damien accepted what I’d suggested… my life would be that much richer. He was the sweet to my sour, the fun to my serious, and the warmth to my cold.
I’d planted the seed into his mind on what it could be like with me, with us. What he may not have considered was what the three of us could be to each other.
I had no doubt the three of us would be an explosive combination.
It worked for Jade, Chance, and Dane. Hell, not only them, but there were others.
I wanted it to work for us.
All I had to do was give them time. The problem was, I wasn’t a patient man.
It had been a few days since the night at the pub. Liberty’s mother was due to arrive, where I would inform her to never contact her daughter again. I would do anything to protect Liberty and if that meant dealing with her mother, I would.
Voices rose outside my office. I quickly pushed back my chair and stood, striding to the door where I abruptly opened it to find Damien leaning over Liberty’s desk whispering something to her. His jaw was clenched, his eyes hard.
“You are not staying for this,” she hissed and stood, getting in her boyfriend’s face. I was surprised neither of them noticed I was there.
Of course I had to change that.
Stepping out of my office, I saw Damien tense. He turned his head my way, and he probably didn’t think I would see the quick sweep of my body his eyes took. He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “I was just telling Liberty I want to be here for when her mum gets here.”
Liberty scoffed and crossed her own arms, turning to me. “And I was just telling Damien that he doesn’t need to be here for it.”
Both Damien and I could have guessed why she didn’t want him there, no doubt embarrassed for the way her mother was, and it was bad enough I would be witness to it. However, if the three of us did this together, it was the perfect opportunity for us to become closer.
Was I using the situation to gain what I wanted?
Maybe.
But I also thought it important for Damien, who was already Liberty’s boyfriend, to be a part of something that could hurt Liberty emotionally. She would need all the sup
port she could get, which was why I said, “I think Damien being here for you would be good.”
She glared at me. I stopped my smile and stared back with a bored expression. She turned her glare to Damien, who really shouldn’t be smiling so wide. Shaking my head, I stepped up to Liberty and placed my hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing. “No matter what your mother is like, we won’t judge you for it.”
She sighed and nodded.
“He’s right, babe.”
“I know,” she grumbled. “I just fucking hate this. Hate the whole situation I dug myself into like a fool.”
“At least you have us to help you dig back out. We’d do anything for you,” Damien reassured her and then tugged her into his arms. I met his stare, a soft look meeting mine that I couldn’t quite get a read on. But I did wonder if he realised he’d placed both of us in that same sentence to helping her out.
Did it mean anything to him?
I wasn’t sure it did. He was a charming man as it was, and I was certain he was just trying to help Liberty out. Still, his words were true. I would be there right alongside him to help our woman through everything.
Our woman.
It had a nice ring to it.
Clearing my throat, I suggested, “Why don’t you both head to the conference room and I’ll bring Mrs Long when she arrives?”
Liberty reached out and took my hand, offering me a small, soft smile. One she rarely used. “Thank you,” she whispered. I managed a nod, while she took Damien’s hand and led him down the hall to the conference room.
Both arses were damn fine side by side.
Damien glanced back, caught me looking and rolled his eyes, but I didn’t miss the smirk on his face. He liked that I looked.