Finally, she whispered, “I don’t have this all figured out, Julián. But I loved what happened between us last night.” The blush in her cheeks spread as she looked up at him. “This will take some getting used to.”
“No one said we had to have it all figured out right away.” Wanting to reassure her, he laid his lips on hers. He held back a little, not kissing her roughly like he had before, just smooching her lower lip and brushing his lips against hers.
As he braced himself above her, she wrapped a hand around his shoulder and rested the other on his pectoral. He paused to look at her for a second, enjoying every line of her nude body. “You’re every bit as beautiful as I imagined. Even more so.”
She smiled up at him and caught her lower lip between her teeth as he took his time looking her over. Even so recently sated, he knew he would be hard for her again in no time. But he wanted her to know that this went beyond sexual satisfaction for him. He returned his gaze to her periwinkle blue eyes and dipped his head again.
Their kisses were languid, nonverbal communication, giving and tasting passion. He’d taken control earlier but he was careful now to not press her against the bed. He wanted her to know that although he hoped she stayed, he wouldn’t force the issue. He didn’t want to say the words so he showed her. He put everything he’d felt for her into his kisses, sliding his tongue along hers, stroking and delighting but not seeking to overwhelm her. She clung to him and returned his kiss, a tiny shudder going through her in response to him. Encouraged, he kissed her more deeply, tasting the recesses of her mouth. His heart pounded as he made promises with his lips that he couldn’t with words right then.
I’d do everything I could to be close to you, if only I knew that was what you wanted.
The sentiment scared the shit out of him. He’d never felt this way about any other woman before. With a look and a touch she could lay all his emotions and needs bare.
Across the hall the shower shut off. He released her lips and looked down at her. Her eyes flitted to the doorway for a second and he could see the longing to speak in her eyes again, but she said nothing. The door to the bathroom opened, emitting a cloud of steam into the hallway.
“The cover girl is finally done,” he murmured with a chuckle.
She quirked an eyebrow like she wanted to ask but then her expression went serious as they heard Chris moving down the hallway toward the kitchen and the utility room beyond. “Is this really all right with you? The three of us, I mean.”
Julián willingly gave her the reassurance she needed. “It is. I’ve never told you about my brother’s family, have I?”
Gwen raised an eyebrow but simply said, “No, I don’t think so.”
Julián filled her in on his brother’s unconventional family. It had thrown Julián for a loop when his brother, Peter, had tried to explain to him that not only did he love Jordan but that he and Jordan were both also in love with Tracy, who had known and loved Jordan most of her life and had fallen hard for Peter the moment she’d met him.
Julián had initially been very judgmental and resistant to the idea of his brother being in love with another man, but seeing the three of them together had changed his mind. It was obvious they loved each other and any long-held beliefs on Julián’s part would only serve to separate him from his brother. The relationship had been confusing to wrap his mind around at first but in light of current events now made perfect sense to him.
“Wow.”
A chuckle welled inside Julián. “Yeah. I’ll be an uncle in March.”
“Congratulations.”
Julián stroked her rib cage and smiled at her shudder. “So our ménage isn’t some half-baked idea on my part, or Chris’s for that matter. Sudden—maybe. But we have talked about it and the discussion did include you specifically.”
“Oh, so I won’t have to worry—”
“About us coming to fists because of some unforeseen jealousy or complication?”
She bit her lip again and seemed almost reluctant to answer. “Yes, I guess so. I don’t mean to offend either of you. You’re mature adults. I’ve just seen plenty of territorial, possessive, jealous men in the last ten years. And they all seem to want to settle things with their fists. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. Especially since you live and work together.”
“I always imagined that if I was involved in a ménage like Angel, Joaquin, and Teresa’s that I’d need to know the man for a good long time. The amount of time I’ve known Chris is a nanosecond compared to a lifetime getting to know a guy. But I know Chris well and I trust him and respect him. Don’t tell him I said that because he’d get a big head about it, but he’s a stand-up guy. You can trust him, Gwen. He fronts with all that bullshit and bluster and kidding but he’s one hundred percent solid. Besides that, this was my idea. I brought it up to him.”
“Really? He didn’t ask to become a part of…”
“A part of our ménage?” At her blushing nod, he continued. “No. I could see how he felt about you. He couldn’t help it. He was ready to get his ass kicked or at the very least to avoid us completely for the duration of your stay. I could see the possibilities and just needed to see the two of you together for myself to confirm it. If he hadn’t been so shy and quiet toward you last evening, that gal last night never would’ve been an issue.”
“I was jealous.”
Julián grinned. “I know.”
“Grace and Teresa had to practically hit me over the head with the idea that this might be what the two of you wanted because I just couldn’t see it. When I finally opened up to the possibility, it was just as that girl settled into Chris’s lap.”
Julián wanted to grit his teeth just thinking about that. The girl had seemed incapable of taking no for an answer, making herself comfortable in Chris’s lap as the big guy had done his best to disengage her without hurting her feelings. Then Gwen had started dancing and the rest of the room had receded for both of them.
If the gal hadn’t gotten pissed off and flounced away, Chris probably would’ve dropped her from his lap when he got up and marched across the room as Gwen finished her dance. Trying to stop him would’ve been like attempting to stop a locomotive, and by that point Julián was frankly satisfied that he’d finally declared himself.
“No more worrying that this is a one-night stand, okay? I don’t know where we’ll end up, Gwen. I really don’t want to dwell on it right now. I just want to enjoy the time we have and see what happens. No matter what…you were worth the wait. More than worth it.”
She smiled up at him and stroked his cheek. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Since the first time I laid eyes on you five years ago.”
She looked off to the right and a soft, secret smile crossed her lips. “Laramie.”
“Yes. The first time I saw you, mounted on Zephyr for the opening ceremonies, waiting to enter the arena. You were so damned beautiful I couldn’t speak. I probably sounded like an idiot when I introduced myself to you.”
Gwen shook her head. “No. I could barely form intelligible words as I looked into your eyes. You could’ve said just about anything and I’d have smiled and nodded.”
“My eyes did it, huh?” he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her nipple, startling a gasp from her as he sucked the tightened peak.
“Y–Yes!”
“And as I recall, your boyfriend picked that moment to show up looking pissed.”
“He wasn’t my boyfriend,” she murmured and her cheeks went red.
“No? He acted like it.”
She looked up at him and shrugged and said nothing more on the subject. “I’ve been waiting for you since then too. There’s just something about your eyes that…pulls me in.”
He spread kisses over her breasts and her upper chest, enjoying the way she squirmed and sighed at his touch. Her skin felt like satin under his palms as he stroked her hip and thigh. He gazed at her face, seeing the vulnerability she tried to hide. “What do you see in
my eyes right now?”
“I see all the things you make me want, that I shouldn’t want.”
Stroking her cheekbone, he kissed her and then whispered, “I won’t do anything to make you feel guilty or manipulate you into staying.”
“I didn’t think you would. It’s myself I’m worried about.”
“Don’t. Let’s just take each day as it comes. We don’t want to hurt you or cause you pain.”
From the doorway, Chris spoke, alerting them to his presence. “I promise not to do that to you, darlin’.” He strode to the bed, clad in only a towel around his hips, and climbed in, filling the space behind her to capacity, but he didn’t touch her. “I know I’m not always the brightest bulb in the box, but for however long we have together, I won’t take it for granted or play games with you.” He glanced at Julián with a knowing look in his eyes. “You two been fooling around?”
She turned her head and lifted her hand to his cheek, drawing him to her for a kiss. “Yes. You smell good.” She stroked his chin with one of her knuckles.
“Took my time shaving for you too. Feel that. Smooth as a baby’s butt,” he said with a grin as she stroked his jaw and cooed.
Julián stretched and said, “Yeah, Chris is a bit of a cover girl when it comes to hygiene.”
“Hey, Julió, can I help it if I want to look my best for my girl?”
“No, Guido, I just wish that the end result didn’t mean an empty hot water tank for the rest of us,” Julián said with a chuckle, thinking that Gwen might as well see their brotherly banter in action. “Careful not to mess up your hair gel and lip gloss there, Guido.”
Chris grinned at him and knocked him in the shoulder with a big, hammy fist. “You know I don’t use hair gel and lip gloss, motherfucker.”
“Sure, Guido, sure. Then tell me how you keep your hair so pretty?”
Gwen turned toward Chris and looped her arms around them, ignoring their mock sparring. “You do have pretty hair, Chris,” she murmured as she gazed up at him admiringly and ran her fingers through his black, wavy hair. “I love how it feels between my…fingers.”
Julián held back a chuckle as Chris growled and became focused on what she was saying. She had a gift for saying one thing and meaning another and Chris had just clued in to that fact, which the tent pole in the towel around his hips attested to. “Thank you, darlin’. I love the way your fingers feel sliding through it. Just grab a hold anytime you want and I won’t mind.”
Julián didn’t hold back his laughter. He kissed Gwen’s shoulder and said, “I’ll save you some hot water, love. Have fun.”
He caught Chris’s look of gratitude before he turned from the room, satisfied that she was in good hands and that her worries had diminished. Her giggles made him smile as he started the shower. They weren’t expected at the Martinezes until ten thirty. They had most of the morning ahead of them and Gwen to play with and love between them. It was going to be a good morning.
Chapter Ten
Late on Christmas morning, Teresa plopped down with a happy sigh on the couch next to Gwen in the Martinez family den. Shredded wrapping paper was scattered everywhere, kicked around by Michael and Eleazar as they played with all their toys. Gwen smiled at her friend, noting the peace in her features.
“You and the baby feeling okay this morning? I figured with all the excitement, Angel and Joaquin would be getting you to lie down to rest.”
Gwen, Julián, and Chris had arrived midmorning on Christmas at the Martinezes’ invitation. The kids made lots of noise but Gwen had noticed almost immediately that a quiet peace still pervaded the house and their hostess.
Before Teresa could reply, Angel returned to the den carrying a large steaming mug and took a seat next to Teresa. “Give the marshmallows a few minutes, beautiful. They’ve only just begun to melt.” He blew on the steam and stirred the spoon in the mug, then turned it in his hand so that she could take it by the handle. She smiled and leaned toward him for a kiss and whispered, “Thank you.”
That was when Gwen noticed the ring sparkling on Teresa’s index finger. She gasped and Teresa grinned as she blew on her hot cocoa and let Gwen inspect her hand more closely. “That was my Christmas gift from Angel and Joaquin.” The band was yellow gold, and two lovely yellow-green peridots were set on either side of a larger round-cut diamond that sparkled with fiery brilliance.
“Absolutely gorgeous. Is peridot your birthstone?”
Teresa nodded and stroked the lovely silver locket which she wore on a chain around her neck. “Yes. Angel gave this to me for my birthday the year we began dating. And yes to your other question too. I’m fine. As you can see, they won’t let me lift a finger.” She gestured toward the men, who were all on the floor with the kids, even Julián and Chris. Gwen could recall Christmases growing up but none of them had looked this laid back.
Her mom had kept everything on a tight schedule. Wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows would never have hit the carpet around the Christmas tree, which would’ve stood in the corner, perfectly decorated, all the ornaments evenly spaced and color coordinated. Even the wrapped gifts would’ve been color coordinated and evenly placed underneath the tree. There wouldn’t have been any visitors prior to lunch, which would’ve been on the table promptly at noon. Her mother would’ve chased every shred of wrapping paper, every little wad of tape until the house was once again pristine…at least until the year Gwen turned eighteen. There hadn’t been a Christmas that year.
“Hey, where did you go?” Teresa was looking at her with concern, her head tilted. She reached over the back of the couch and grabbed a box of tissues and offered it to Gwen.
It was then that Gwen realized that tears were rolling out of her eyes.
“Please tell me that you’re reliving happy memories of other Christmases.”
Gwen smiled halfheartedly and shrugged. “I had a younger sister. We lost her when she was fourteen to leukemia, on Christmas day. Ever since, Christmas has been difficult. But the tears aren’t sad this time. They’re more…hopeful. You’re very blessed, Teresa.” The pain of Ruth’s loss would probably always be there but it didn’t feel as intense that day.
Teresa looked around the room, sniffed, and grabbed a tissue for herself. “You are so right.” She laid her hand over Gwen’s. “I’m so sorry about your sister.” Gwen nodded and then was distracted by giggling across the room.
“Okay, okay, okay!” Chris growled playfully. “Ganging up on the new guy isn’t fair now!” He was unable to keep the laughter from his voice as Michael and Eleazar each hung from his belt and wrapped their legs around his big tree trunks for legs. Chris glanced at her and winked before going back to watching out for both little boys hanging from him. He took care to not step on them or hurt them as they hung from him like appendages as he walked across the room. Eleazar cracked up and yelled, “Hossie!”
Chris chuckled and peered down at the toddler. “Let go, little dude, and I’ll be your hossie.”
Eleazar cackled as he flopped back onto a pile of wrapping paper which was cushioned by one of the woolen throw blankets Teresa kept in the room. The stone floor would’ve been painful on his back and little head but Chris had made sure he was where he wouldn’t hurt himself when he let go. That thought created a little catch in her chest. Such a sweetheart.
Michael also let go before Chris sat down on the area rug. Angel was nearby, assembling the Air Hog helicopter that Julián had given Michael, while Joaquin motioned to Michael to come help him build a rather intricate log cabin from the Lincoln Logs Chris had given to him.
Teresa sighed happily and then nudged Gwen. Her voice was soft so that the others wouldn’t overhear. “Did the three of you have a chance to talk last night?” Teresa wouldn’t be so bold as to ask if they’d done anything. That wasn’t her way. Well…at least it wasn’t unless Grace was around. If Grace was there they’d both be asking for details. Grace blamed her inquisitiveness on her sister, Charity, claiming that she was a bad influenc
e on all of them. Gwen thought they were all a hoot.
“We did a little more than talk. But yes, we did have a chance to talk some things out.” The thought didn’t give her a feeling of peace or serenity. Instead, she felt that internal “bracing” kick in. That self-defense mechanism that made saying good-bye easier. The problem, and the reason it hurt, was that she didn’t want to say good-bye to them. They’d been so good to her the night before, and had made love to her so thoroughly earlier that morning, that she was in a happy daze.
“Why are you frowning?”
“I’m not frowning.” In fact she had to keep wiping the goofy, sex-saturated grin off her face so everyone wouldn’t know that she’d come more times the night before and that morning than should be legal.
Teresa reached up and gently touched the spot between her brows. “When I asked if you’d talked, you smiled and then this little furrow appeared. Why?”
Gwen looked down at her knuckles, which were wrapped in fresh gauze thanks to Chris, and sighed. “Because last night was the most extraordinary experience of my life but I know I’ll be leaving here.”
“You’re wondering what to do?”
“There’s no question what I’ve got to do, Teresa. I hope that Mr. Wilson will be interested in letting me babysit his ranch while he’s gone because it’ll mean I can stay in the area, but ultimately, I’m leaving in March. I have to. I’ve got to get Zephyr back. I want my ranch back. I’m on pins and needles here. I’d be near panic if Roger Bedford hadn’t assured me he’d do everything he could to get them back. If he does, I need to be able to pay him. To do that, I’ve got to get back on the circuit.” The men glanced up at her for a second.
Tangled in Divine [Divine Creek Ranch 14] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 14