Playful Temptation

by Scarlett Avery

  That may be true, but I’m thoroughly disappointed I wasn’t able to kiss Delilah goodbye. At least I’m able to find comfort in the fact that Ethan was up and he was able to drive her to work. I would have hated for her to be up alone trying to figure out how to get back to her place. It’s a good thing that one of us could look after her.

  When I finally crawl out of bed, I stand up with my hands on my hips and assess the signs of our carnal exchange. Although my clothes are the only ones still on the floor, there’s no doubt what happened here. I shake my head, astounded, as I take everything in—the two pillows Delilah and Ethan used are tossed at the foot of the bed, the box of condoms on Ethan’s side has spilled on the night table, the ones on my side are fanned out and Delilah’s make-up smudges spot my white sheets. By all accounts, it was wild.

  With a smile stretching my face, I decide to change the sheets. I ready myself to pull the top one off, but instead, I flip it over and place my hands against the mattress. I inhale deeply, hoping to catch a whiff of Delilah’s lingering perfume. Damn, she smells like some of the most beautiful flowers in our garden. Suddenly, realization hits that Ethan and I have to talk so we know when we’re seeing her again. The sooner, the better. Preferably tonight.

  Once I get my fix, I go back to the task at hand. Twenty minutes later I’m done. I run to the bathroom to take a quick shower. I plan on jumping in and out. That’s not quite how things turn out. A flashback to this morning’s saucy romp has me so worked up, I have no other choice but to slide my hand over my hard cock and stroke furiously, imagining Delilah’s lips wrapped around me until I climax. It’s so violent, I think I’m going to black out. I had to hold onto the wall in fear of collapsing to my knees. Our voluptuous little redhead has that kind of powerful effect on me.

  By the time I finally hit the kitchen, I’m beyond starved. Other than the days when Ethan and I used to spend hours on the football field, I don’t remember the last time I was this hungry. I open the fridge and stick my head inside in search of something to satiate me. Since it’s already midday, I opt for a colossal chicken salad sandwich. Crumpets or toast won’t do. I’m well past that. Thank God I had groceries delivered and I ordered pre-made meals from a caterer on Monday. Without that, I’d have to settle for takeaway or pillage Ethan’s fridge.

  I pull open the freezer, grab some bread and place four slices in the toaster. There’s no way one sandwich will suffice to bring me back to life. While the bread is toasting, I pull out the Glasslock that holds an insanely delicious chicken, walnut and dried cranberries mixture. The addition of Greek yogurt to the homemade mayonnaise is what truly sets this recipe apart. Once I place the container on the counter, I rummage through the drawer for some prewashed lettuce leaves. I open the cupboard to my left and pull out a large white bone china plate. When the bread pops, my mouth is salivating and my stomach is grumbling. I’m carefully focused on piling up my two sandwiches, already counting the seconds until I can sink my teeth into them.

  When I hear the sound of heels hitting the concrete floor coming from the glass room, I bend backward and stretch my neck. “Ethan?” I call out.

  “Yeah.” His tone is neutral.

  “What are you doing home so early? It’s only one o’clock. Are you sick?” That can be the only explanation.

  “No, mate. Thank God, I’m fine,” he says, undoing his tie before sitting on the other side of my kitchen island.

  “If—”

  “Sorry to interrupt, mate. I’m famished, Xander. If you don’t mind putting a few slices of bread in the toaster, I’ll follow your cue and prepare myself a sandwich.”

  “Not a problem.” I open the freezer and grab four slices of bread. I don’t even have to ask Ethan. His appetite matches mine in everything from food to women. I take a few steps to my left to fetch him a plate, which I place on the island behind me. I turn around and grab the Glasslock container that is still sitting on the counter and drop it right in front of my best friend.

  “Thank you. This will hit the spot nicely,” he says, smiling at me.

  “Please. It’s nothing. Long morning?”

  “I’ve survived on a flimsy excuse of a cheddar scone I grabbed after dropping Delilah off at the gallery. That and by keeping myself awake on extremely strong coffee—almost injected it intravenously—and by slapping myself in the face quite regularly.”

  “Then why are you here?” I ask, going back to my original question.

  “After you texted me, I decided it was best to put an end to the charade.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My concentration is shit. After hours of struggling, I realized there was no point in fighting it.”

  “That bad?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Delilah?”

  “Who else?” The bread pops. I grab the slices and drop them on Ethan’s plate. “Thanks,” he says. I give him a quick nod. I finish preparing my own sandwiches and sit across from him. In a blink of an eye, Ethan has one of his sandwiches ready. “Bon appétit,” he says, lifting it at eye level.

  “Bon appétit,” I repeat.

  We both take a huge bite and chew for a few minutes in silence. It doesn’t take me long to polish off half of my first sandwich before attacking the second one. Ethan is eating as fast and furiously as I am.

  His eyes move from his plate up to mine. “I don’t even know if I managed to get two hours of sleep last night,” he says between bites. “When you combine this excruciating exhaustion I’m facing with the fact that I can’t seem to get her out of my mind, I’m rendered completely useless. I thought perhaps by working from home, I might be more productive. I was planning on taking a nap and then going back to it.”

  “Honestly, had I not been lost to the deepest sleep of my life, I’d be in the same predicament as you are. That said, since waking up an hour ago, she’s all I can think of.”

  “And since you’re home, I’m sure you didn’t have to refrain from wanking like a horny teenager?” He flashes me a crooked smile.

  “That goes without saying.” We both chuckle. “Didn’t you take care of business before you left?”

  “No. I couldn’t. I took a shower with her—”

  “At least you were able to enjoy her body again,” I interrupt. “Hmph. I woke up to an empty bed.” I do my best to sound as wounded as possible.

  “You needed your rest, sleeping beauty.” Ethan laughs. I wish I were as amused. I would have gladly forfeited a few hours of sleep for a chance to hold Delilah in my arms again.

  “How was she this morning? Was she okay with us sharing her?” Her daring actions indicate that she loves being adored by two men, but that was in the heat of the moment. Sometimes when you wake up, reality hits you. In some cases, what seemed like a good idea no longer is. Given Delilah’s inexperience, I have to ask.

  “She was. She loves it when it’s the three of us. I was a little worried it would be too much for her, but apparently I was wrong.” Ethan’s smile is wide.

  “Wow. That’s bloody brilliant.”

  “I know. She’s everything we could have dreamed of and then some. On top of that, she accepts our way of life. I think it’s finally sinking in that two men can give her far more than one man could ever—no matter how amazing he is.”

  “That’s fantastic news,” I rejoice.

  “I’m absolutely thrilled. Given our track record of fuck ’em and leave ’em since Adele, I didn’t think we would be able to find someone I’d want to see more than once. And it’s not just about the sex. I genuinely like everything about Delilah.”

  “I feel the same way.” We sit there staring at each other for a few short seconds, grinning like two men who know they’ve found gold. “And to think I’m the one responsible for this,” I state, breaking the silence.

  Ethan gives me a what-are-you-talking-about look. “I think I met her first.”

  “Technically, yes. If we were to stop at that, we’d miss the whole story.”


  “You’re not making any sense, Xander.”

  How quickly he forgets. “May I remind you that you were merely admiring her from afar? Had I not suggested us hanging out at Hush, we would never have met her that night. She was alone and we were looking. Everything lined up so perfectly for us.”

  He nods knowingly. “As much as I’d love to deny it, you’re right. Without your suggestion, we most likely would have ended up with yet another one-night stand.”

  Suddenly, I remember that I cut Ethan off while he was sharing something. “Mate, my little jealous tantrum of earlier prevented you from finishing your story. You were saying?”

  Ethan frowns. “Oh,” he exclaims, snapping his fingers. “I was saying that because I didn’t want her to be late, I had to pretend that I didn’t have a raging hard-on. For the record, I’ve been walking around with an uncomfortable boner since I dropped her off.” He chuckles. “Thank God I opted for a suit this morning. This jacket is a lifesaver. It covers all sorts of sins. Had I opted for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I would have embarrassed myself.” He shakes his head. “Well, that’s my cross to bear. At least one of us came.”

  Did I ever. “It was ridiculous. It’s as if I have been deprived of sex for the last year. In fact, it’s been like this since the first time we all came together.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. Every time I had an orgasm last night—and again this morning—my release kept pouring. You’d think I had left the tap on to the highest setting.”

  “It’s never been like this with any other woman before. And it’s surely never been like this with a woman we’ve shared.” Considering our intimate relationship with Adele and how we felt about her, I don’t have to tell you how surprising that is.

  “It’s exactly the same for me,” he confesses.

  “I can’t wait to claim her again, Ethan.”

  “You won’t have to wait long. That’s another reason why I desperately need a few hours of sleep. I invited her back for tonight.”

  “You did?” I ask, surprised.

  “Did you get enough of her?”

  “Not even close.” My answer comes fast.

  “I didn’t want to wait to see her again.”

  “We definitely see eye to eye on that one. Why didn’t you tell me you went ahead and extended an invitation to her? After all, I texted you a little over an hour ago.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not upset about it at all. It’s just that he could have warned me.

  “I thought it would be more fun for me to call you later after you had had a chance to get a start on your day. Once I made the decision to come back home, I figured we’d chat face-to-face. Also, I invited her to stay the night. I suggested she packs an overnight bag with her clothes and toiletries. I doubt either of us will want to get up in the wee hours of the morning to drive her back to her place. This way we get to enjoy her longer and she doesn’t have to stress out about getting to work on time like she did today.”

  “Good call, mate.” I love how Ethan thinks. I definitely wouldn’t say no to Delilah waking me up again by sucking my cock. “Our time with her has been surreal so far,” I say, shaking my head.

  “It’s been mind-blowing,” Ethan acquiesces. We lock eyes. We don’t need to talk. This is yet another moment when we are perfectly in sync. No one knows this man better than I do. I might not be a mind-reader, but I’m fairly certain he’s as much under Delilah’s spell as I am.

  “Everything about her arouses me. Fuck, the woman’s body is downright sinful—from her enormous tits to that sexy ass I could ride for days. Just thinking of her sends all of the blood in my brain rushing directly to my cock.” I squeeze my legs together in an attempt to relieve my uncomfortable bulge.

  “There’s no two ways about it, she’s absolutely delectable.” Ethan sums it up more eloquently that I do. My cock is doing all the thinking so there’s no room for poetry. “You know what drives me fucking crazy?”

  “No,” I answer, leaning in.

  “The way her tight little ass clenches at my fingers when I explore her dark side. It gives me such a rush to know we’re going to be the first ones to sink our big cocks inside her virgin ass.” Ethan’s lips curl up into a triumphant smile.

  “There’s no way she’ll be able to take even half of us the first time,” I caution.

  “Most likely not. I’d be surprised if she’s able to take in a quarter. Our girth will be a lot to handle.” It’s Ethan’s turn to slap me with a good dose of reality.

  “Maybe, but we’ll have naughty fun practicing until she can.” I grin.

  “And she will.” Ethan will make sure of it. We both laugh. “Riding her ass without any restrictions will be an unforgettable experience. Knowing we can fuck her as hard and as fast as we want and she’ll have stretched out enough to take us in without a whimper will be extraordinary.” The visual is so salacious.

  “Fuck, yeah,” I grunt.

  “Watching your cock fully disappear into her tight ass will be my demise.” And mine. “That’s when she’ll be fully ours, mate.” I nod. “I’m counting the days.” His self-assurance is legendary. “We’ll need to prepare her well in advance, but one thing is certain, we’re claiming that ass.”

  “I can’t wait.” My cock grows hard.

  “I want to ruin her for all other men, Xander,” Ethan confesses. “It’s not just something I’m saying for show. I really want this.” Wow. “I don’t think I’ve had these possessive urges in a very long. Not since…”

  “Adele.” I finish his sentence.

  “Exactly. Even with her it was different. The way I feel about Delilah surprises the shit out of me. I find myself needing to make sure she’s taken care of first—in and out of bed.” He pauses and stares me in the eyes. From the intensity I read in his gaze, I’m sure whatever he’s about to say is pivotal. “I want to own that woman—body, heart, and fucking soul.”

  I ponder on his words before delivering my verdict. “I think after last night, we do.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Delilah

  Since my mom called me at lunch, I asked—okay, more like I begged—Maggie to postpone our call until I was done with work. I know it’s going to be midday for her, but I hope we can make it work. When Ethan texted me to find out at what time he should pick me up, I made sure to add an extra hour as a buffer. Given how Maggie and I can go on forever and given the enormity of the news I have to share with her, I’m sure we’ll need every single minute we can get.

  As excited as I am about tonight—because I never thought that Ethan and Xander would want to see me so soon and let’s just face it, last night was hotter than hell—there’s no way I can go back for another wanton marathon unless I speak to someone. It’s true I could talk to Jackie—since she did open up about her own threesome—but this is all so new to me. I’m much more comfortable confiding in someone who knows me well. Everything was so intense, I need to bounce things off of Maggie so she can give me a little perspective. To be perfectly honest, I lost all good sense the second we started making out in the glass room.

  After work, I dash out the door like my ass is on fire, nearly sprinting all the way to the Tube. I pretty much do the same thing once I get off at my station. I’m not one who has a particular penchant for exercise—quite frankly, I despise having to sweat that much—but here I am running like I’m doing the hundred-meter dash at the Olympics. It’s amazing what a man or two can do to a girl. I usually tend to stroll back to the apartment at a leisurely pace while enjoying the scenic views of the city. Not today. I’m way too focused to even appreciate what’s happening around me. The faster I can get back to my place, the quicker I can spill my guts. Bottom line is, the more time I have with Maggie, the better.

  I get back to the apartment in record time. I’m panting heavily and sweating profusely, but it’s worth it. “Damn, was I ever motivated,” I say to myself, looking down at my watch. Lady Luck was on my side today. I caught every single connection
, which means I was able to shave thirty minutes off of my usual travel time. Hooray for me.

  Once I close the door behind me, I kick off my ballerina shoes. Since Jackie isn’t home because she’ll be staying at Nathan’s place after work, the apartment is absolutely quiet. Perfect. Aware that time is ticking away, I grab my phone from my handbag and run to the couch. I plop my body on it, lift my feet and drop them on the coffee table in front of me and dial Maggie’s Skype ID via video chat—of course. I totally need to see her reaction when I tell her the news.

  When she accepts the call, she’s already grinning from ear to ear. I didn’t tell her much, but I did say that in my opinion, last night should’ve come with a cautionary note.

  “Can you talk?” I ask when she accepts the call. It’s already six-thirty here, but it’s only one-thirty in the afternoon in New York.

  “Oh, yeah, girlfriend. I took my lunch break the minute you texted me to let me know you were close to your place. I’m so ready for this. I needed time to find a quiet place for us to talk.”

  We both giggle. “Where are you now?” I ask.

  “Well, since this is the Big Apple and a lot of people are still on their lunch break, you can’t take a step without bumping into someone. I was going to take your call outside in a park or something, but that plan is a no-go. I had to go with plan B.”

  “Which is?” I ask excitedly. From the background I can tell she’s most likely at her office, but I’m not sure where.

  “I’m basically in one of the smaller conference rooms. I’ve barricaded myself in here with no intention of leaving until I get the full scoop from you. I’ve got my earphones on, so no one can hear you—in other words, your secret is safe with me. We’re definitely good to go.” This is looking more like a covert operation than a conversation between two best friends.

  “Smart move.” I nod my approval.

  “Well, I figured it’s the only way for me to save my job.”

  I furrow my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

  “Call me psychic, but I have a feeling that what you’re about to reveal is totally, unequivocally R-rated.”