Neil, Louisa - One Queen with Two Kings (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Neil, Louisa

  He pulled on his sweatpants and a flannel shirt, but didn’t button it, going in search of Thea. He hadn’t smelled fresh coffee brewing, so where was she?

  Reaching the main living area, he saw she was asleep before the fireplace, the embers dying to nothingness. She was all tucked up on the chair, her head lying on the arm. He decided she’d be sore when she woke, but he’d massage the kink in her neck. Russell appeared from the other side of the house, coming from his bedroom. He caught a glimpse of Dex and said, “Good morning,” for which he immediately got shushed by Dex.

  “She’s asleep,” he said, waiting until Russ came into the kitchen area. He automatically began to make coffee.

  “When did she come out here?”

  “Beats me. When I went back to bed she was sound asleep. I don’t know what time she got up.”

  “So you don’t think we woke her?” Russell asked.

  “I don’t think so.” Dex finished setting up the coffee and pushed the button. As soon as he did, the pot started to warm and the scent of the brewing coffee filled the room. “What are we going to do?”

  “About what?” Russ teased. “I’ve told you this isn’t my call. I’ll walk away if that’s what you want and what you need to keep Thea.”

  “I know, but after last night, I know I don’t want to stop what we’ve found. And I certainly don’t want to sneak around behind her back. I can’t let our relationship turn into a sleazy affair. We both deserve more.”

  “So does Thea,” Russ added. “She’s your wife. It’s your decision to tell her or not.”

  “Thanks, you’re a lot of help,” Dex said sarcastically.

  “Tell me what?”

  Thea woke to the smell of coffee. Her body was cramped from sleeping in the chair, and she stretched her arms over her head, rotating her head several times to release the ache. At first, she was confused about where she was and if Dexter was really home. Then she remembered finding the two men last night on the deck, having sex. She had no idea what else they had done together when she stopped watching and walked away. Anger hit her first, and she tried to pull it back, tried to act as if nothing had happened, or at least she didn’t know what happened.

  She stayed where she was, waiting for the men to answer her question, knowing they’d heard her. When they didn’t right away, the next thing that swamped her was being horny. That made her angry. She shouldn’t be getting all hot and bothered thinking about her husband fucking his best friend. It struck her again that she had wondered last night what it might be like to have both men make love to her.

  No, she decided for the tenth time, this was all too crazy for her.

  She was married to Dexter, and they should be enough for each other. She wondered if they still would have been if not for the crash and the separation. It dawned on her that Lloyd had fucked them all, literally in a certain way, even if it wasn’t his cock thrusting. In the back of her mind, she knew she would never admit to him he’d had the ultimate revenge, whether she and Dexter stayed together or not.

  The niggling part in the back of her brain kept forcing forward the initial attraction she’d held for Russ. She’d met them both at the same time and had thought Russ was cute in a certain way. But Dexter was the man of her dreams. Now it seemed he was the man of Russell’s dreams, too.

  The men were still quiet. She could hear the coffee spitting out the last drops into the pot, the smell wafting toward her. Thea again reinforced to herself that she would not sit back and let someone else run her life and make her decisions for her. But she wanted to make informed decisions, not emotional ones.

  “Why not bring me a cup of coffee and you two can tell me what you were whispering about. Dex, what did Russ mean it was your decision to tell me or not? What was the subject of that conversation?”

  Thea waited for them to come to her. She shifted in the large armchair and straightened the top of her pajamas that had gotten skewed in her restless sleep. As she sat now, the tops of her breasts were on display. If she’d been alone with Dex, she would have left the top alone, an offer of morning sex. With Russ beside him, she decided to get more information before offering herself to the two of them.

  Russell came to her first, dropping a kiss on her forehead and handing her a mug of the warm brew. He chose to sit on the chair opposite her. Dexter seemed to be hanging back.

  “Thanks for the coffee, Russ. Dex, are you going to join us?”

  It still took him another minute before he joined them. He sat on the sofa, put his cup on the coffee table before him, and brought his hands to his head, rubbing his temples. She noted he didn’t look at her or Russ.

  “So what is it, Dex? What decision are you wrestling with about when and how to tell me?” He didn’t answer her or look at her. “Russ, will you talk to me? Before this all happened, I thought we were good friends, almost family, too. One of you needs to talk to me.”

  She noted the look of absolute panic that crossed Russell’s face. “It’s not my place,” he whispered.

  Thea drew a deep breath and glanced from one man to the other. Finally, she’d had enough of their adolescent ways. If they wouldn’t talk to her, she’d tell them what she saw, and then it would be out and they’d have to talk to her.

  “Was it your place to suck my husband’s cock last night out on the deck and for him to fuck your ass?” She’d kept her tone level, not hollering as she wanted to, instead trying to remain the voice of reason. “Considering he fell asleep before making love to me last night, I’m beginning to feel like I’m getting the short end of this deal.”

  “Thea…” Dexter said, but didn’t finish his thought, quickly looking away from her.

  “Russ, do you have anything to say?” He, too, kept his gaze downward.

  “Fine, tell me this, how long has your affair been going on? Before the crash or since it? And please be honest. At this point in all our lives, we’ve all lived with enough lies for the last years. If neither of you has noticed, I’m a grown woman, able to deal with more than I ever thought one person would have to comprehend. But I’m a survivor, too, just in a different way. I’m asking for the truth. I feel I deserve that at the very least.” She settled back in the chair, sipping from the cup, looking from one man to the other.

  Russell spoke first, finally looking directly at her. “Never before the island. I’ve always been bisexual but very private about it. Always chose partners who wouldn’t come in contact with anybody I cared about.”

  Dexter still hadn’t looked up. “So the strain of being marooned on the island forced Dexter to go gay?” Thea almost laughed but held it back, not wanting to think she was making a joke of the situation. “Because since Dex has been home, he’s been making a good show of loving me. Or was that all for show, all for the public to consume, including me?”

  “No, it just happened when we were on the island. Every night we’d reminisce about what we’d left behind. Every night Dex would tell me about how you two were, how he missed you. If anything, he’s bisexual like me. I love a woman’s body and, on occasion, I like men.” Russ finally looked directly at her.

  “Go on, I’m listening.” She tucked her feet up under her on the chair.

  “At night we’d fantasize about being home. My ass just became a surrogate for your pussy.” Russell’s face turned bright red.

  “My pussy and ass were here last night. Why didn’t you use me, Dex? Why did you feign sleep and then slip out of bed to fuck Russell?”

  “Thea…” His voice cracked when he said her name.

  “Is that all you can say, my name? Russ, continue. At least you’re willing to talk to me. We’re all alone here, at least let’s be honest with each other, considering this involves the three of us.”

  Thea rose and brought the glass pot from the coffeemaker to them, topping off each of their cups before returning it to the warmer. “I’m not sure if I’m mad about you two being together or mad that you didn’t think to include me, or worse, that I c
ouldn’t handle the strain of finding out.” She reached for her cup and settled back in the chair. Dex was still hiding his face in his hands. At least Russ had the courage to look at her. “I feel betrayed, like you two have been having an affair behind my back.”

  “I’m glad you know, Thea. It’s been the worst part of all of this. Dexter was so afraid you’d find out and leave him without at least hearing him out.”

  “Pretty hard to do considering he doesn’t have the courage to say a word.”

  “Please don’t look at this as an affair. The entire time we were marooned and even before, from the first day I met you, I was attracted to you. But you took one look at Dex and I didn’t exist. I never stood a chance to win your affection.” He put his cup aside. “We talked on the island, dreaming that when we got back, we could become a threesome, a complete unit of trust, love, and sex. Our dreams had you being the center of our affections, of us taking care of your needs and in turn you handling ours. That we could all be sexual together.”

  Thea let out a cynical laugh. “Of all the things I considered you might have experienced on the island, I can honestly say this one never crossed my mind. Actually, sex didn’t enter into any of my wondering. I guess because I was so shut down, I assumed you two would be too. I guess it’s ironic to some degree. I always knew you were close, but never considered that there was an absolute love and tenderness between you.” Dex started to interrupt, but she talked over him. “You had your chance. I’m talking now. What I watched in your movements last night between you two was lovemaking. It was intimate, not just fucking. I think that’s what bothers me the most, the intimacy between you. I knew when we found you things would be different, just not this way. I expected there to be some distance between us, but not like this.”

  Thea stood and walked to the kitchen door, overlooking the deck and then the mountains. “I feel like I’ve lost two years of my life, and I’m not ready to accept defeat and lose you again, Dex. I just won’t accept that you don’t love me or want me anymore.” She opened the door, and the cold morning air rushed in. She walked outside and leaned on the railing, taking deep breaths of air until her lungs hurt from the cold. “This was supposed to be a new beginning for all of us. I just never anticipated being the third wheel.” She said the words more to herself than to the men.

  With a decisive thud, Thea came back in the house and pulled the door shut. “I’m going to shower and dress…alone. I need some time to think this all through, unless you two have made up your mind and I’m just out of the picture.” She headed across the living area toward her bedroom. “Dex, if that’s what you want, for me to be gone, I can arrange it.”

  Finally, he stood, but it was as if he was rooted to the spot and didn’t make a move toward her.

  “I’m going to shower alone. I’ve done it for two years. I can do it again.” She left the two men in the living room, watching her walk away. While she would have liked to know what they were thinking, she didn’t ask. It would all unravel soon enough now that she’d told them of her discovery.

  Thea had no fear either man would attempt to make contact while she was dressing. Dex was frozen with anxiety, she decided, and Russ wouldn’t encroach on her private shower. Taking her time, she showered, dried her hair, and carefully applied her makeup. She dressed in warm jeans, walking boots, and several layers of sweaters. When she ventured back to the living area, the men were huddled around the kitchen counter. They broke apart, each with a guilty look on his face, when she cleared her throat to let them know she was back.

  “I guess that decides it all. My worst fear all night was that I’d be intruding in your relationship. Now I know I’m the third wheel. It’s not a place I like.” She paused for a breath. “Russ, is this how you always felt, like a third around us?”

  “No, until the island. I never thought to approach Dex with my feelings or wishes. I always kept that side of my life very separate.”

  “Is that why every week there was a new woman, because you had to hide your feelings for Dex and parading women covered your real want?”

  “You’re right about the women, but wrong on the concept, Thea. In all honesty, I always wanted us to be a threesome. I always wanted some of your attention and affection. Dex used to call you his aqua queen, and I always thought I’d be damn lucky to have you be my aqua queen, too.”

  “So if I’m the queen, who’s supposed to be my king?”

  “Dex is your king. Consider me an ally king who visits occasionally for fun and sex.”

  “One queen with two kings.” Thea took a clean cup and filled it with fresh coffee, turning to look at both men. “Dex, you’ve let Russ do all the talking. Don’t you have anything to say?” He glanced at her and looked at the floor. “Doesn’t the idea of me being with another man bother you on some level?”

  “Absolutely,” Dex finally said, pulling himself to stand straight, looking directly at her. “But I had to accept you might have been while I was gone. I couldn’t expect you to stay celibate for two years not knowing if I were dead or alive.” She realized he’d finally gotten his strength back. “It drove me crazy to think you were with another man or woman.”

  “Okay, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not into other women. What happened between you two on the island is one thing, but I didn’t turn to women while you were gone, or ever before.”

  “Thea, Russ isn’t just a random lay. It’s not like you picked up a stranger in a bar and brought him home to be with us. Russ belongs with us. I know that sounds crazy, but it feels right. He’s been our friend for years.”

  “What if I chose to sleep with other men, just for the fun of it. How would that make you feel?”

  “Outraged,” Russell burst in. He looked away quickly. Thea started to laugh and Dex followed. Finally Russ turned back to face them. “I’m glad my feelings are laughable to you two.”

  “Not laughable, maybe just a moment of relief from all the tension.”

  “Fine, then here’s the facts.” Russ gave Dex a resigned look. “I’ve loved you, Thea, since the first time I saw you. I knew you’d never give me the time of day, but I’ve always had feelings for you of love and sex. My biggest fantasy of all the women I’ve dated was to find someone like you. None could measure up. None could break past the crush I’ve had on you.”

  “Russell, you want me to believe that all the years we’ve known each other you’ve pined for me and I never gave you a second look, sexually? All those weekends away and vacations?”

  “I couldn’t tell you. You and Dex were in love. If I told you, I’d never see either of you again. That would be worse than unrequited love and sex.”

  “What did you say about all this, Dex? What did you do when Russ confessed to you?”

  “I wasn’t happy, to say the least, but my leg was in a makeshift brace, and Russ knew I couldn’t chase him. After a while, we talked, and I began to see his side of it.” Dex took a step toward her, but she took a step back. “Please don’t make any rash decisions.”

  “Thea, I didn’t want to spoil your reunion. Last night just happened. It wasn’t planned. We, Dex and I, always promised that if we were ever rescued, our intimate times would end, without being discussed. That was Dexter’s one wish. We didn’t plan to meet last night after you fell asleep, but we both wound up in the same place. We started talking about being back on the island, and it just happened.”

  “Nothing seems to be going according to plan these last two years. I need to get some air, outside of this house. I’m going to take a drive into town, window-shop, and have lunch. Take some time to clear my head. I’ll be back before dark.” Thea hesitated. “Either of you want to come with me? Or would you rather be left alone together in the house to play?” Her words weren’t cruel, just a question. “If you come, I have one rule, no talk about sex, in any way, shape or form. Let’s just get out and be human for a few hours.”

  “I need ten minutes to get ready,” Dexter told her.

&
nbsp; “I should probably give you some time alone.” Russ didn’t look at either of them.

  “Oh no, I’m not leaving you behind to feel sorry for yourself. Get dressed. I’m driving.” She watched the men glance to each other and her. “As I reminded you at the airport, I’m the only one with a license.”

  “Don’t you hate it when she’s right?” Russ said, heading to his room.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Dexter added, wandering away toward the master bedroom she shared with him.

  Thea grabbed her jacket and purse and left the house, heading outside to warm up the rental car. She noted but didn’t comment on Dexter taking the front passenger seat, and Russell slid in the back seat. The image of the men fucking came to her mind, and she held back a laugh.

  Chapter Eight

  The drive to the closest town was only half an hour, but Thea hid her smile several times when she heard the men gasp or take a deep breath at her skills behind the wheel. She admitted to herself that she was driving a bit faster than usual, especially on the twisting mountain roads. Good, let them sweat, she decided, knowing she wasn’t out to harm any of them, just to release some of the angst she carried from her newfound information. She turned on the radio to a news station, alleviating any need for conversation. She found a spot on the main street and pulled into it with ease.

  Parked in front of a small restaurant on the main street, she stood taking deep breaths of the cool air when they exited the car. “I’d like to wander a bit. If you guys want to eat, go ahead and I’ll catch up.”

  “No, I’m not hungry,” Dexter said, falling in step beside her.

  “Russ, what about you?”

  “I’m not sure if you want to be alone, or what to do?”