Heath nodded sagely as he interrupted. “They’re territorial. We would be too.”
Cody cast a disgusted look at Heath. “Long and the short of it is this. They’ll take good care of you.”
Camilla smiled at her friends. “So you approve. And you’re not…pining?”
Cody gave a small shake of his head, but Heath slid his lower lip out, his pale green eyes twinkling, and nodded pathetically. Cody must’ve guessed at Heath’s antics because he jabbed backward with his elbow, and Heath’s breath left him in a whoosh. “You’ll always be the one that got away, Cami. But we’re really happy for you.”
“Someday you’ll find a girl to be overbearing, overprotective assholes about and you can drive her crazy with all your territorial bullshit. Whoever she is, she’s a lucky girl.”
Camilla jumped up from her chair and hugged them both. She was pretty sure the men were intent on sharing a woman. And it was one hell of a woman that could deal with one of those big guys, much less all three of them.
Cody, with his dark-eyed and long-haired good looks. Heath, with his tightly cropped blond hair and sexy light-colored eyes. And Spencer, who was every woman’s bad boy wet dream come to life, with his golden eyes, closely cut dark hair, and all those tattoos… Camilla hoped that whoever won their great big loving hearts was worthy of them.
“Speaking of lucky,” Heath began, “who was that gorgeous chick who was in here earlier? She’s hot.”
“She’s considering the club management position.” Leveling Heath and Cody with a serious look that came easy from years of practice, Camilla was about to give them her “Work is work, pleasure is pleasure, and the two don’t mix,” speech but thought better of it. It felt unfair to do that to them. They’d been bouncers for years. They weren’t assholes by any stretch of the imagination, and they wouldn’t abuse their responsibilities or their job titles.
“Her name is Sylvan Anders, but she also goes by Sylvie. She’s single, but…”
“But what?”
“She’s not sure how long she’ll be in the area. She’s rather nomadic.”
“Hmm,” Heath said speculatively. “Good to know. I don’t suppose you have her number.”
Camilla scoffed and punched his rock-hard abs. “Gah! Get your own hookups, Heath.”
Heath feigned pain as he clutched his toned gut and backed out of the office. He directed his attention to the front door and said, “Hey, boss.”
Camilla was pleased with the easy conversation between the three men as Ben walked up to the group and gave her a kiss when she put her arms around him. “Hey, sugar. You ready to go?”
She nodded and grabbed her purse and her laptop case, which he took from her as she shut off the lights in her office. “Where’s Quinten?”
“He’s eating out with Ethan, Grace, and the other guys, and probably doing Princess Rose Marie’s bidding, I imagine.”
“Huh?”
“He gave us the night to ourselves.”
“He did?” Pleasure filled Camilla at the prospect. She’d been unsure of how they’d work out alone time in their threesome, especially considering their schedules.
Cody and Heath gave them space and headed toward the door, motioning that they’d be checking the building before locking up for the night. Ben and Camilla nodded and walked to the front door.
“He said that he got all that time alone with you last week, and he wanted to return the favor.”
It had been nice spending one-on-one time with Quinten, eating breakfast together, and then playing on the pier. “So you have me all to yourself tonight?”
Her pleasure must’ve shown on her face because he said, “Yes. We’re making it a priority to have time alone with you. Ethan mentioned a long time ago that they make it a priority to have regular time alone with Grace. She seems pretty happy, so we’re taking a page from their playbook.”
“I love being with both of you, but I do honestly need this time with you alone too. We’re only as strong together as we are when it’s just two of us.”
They decided to drive back to Divine and have a quiet supper at Rudy’s before going home. At the restaurant, Ben asked, “What did you think of Keller Matthews for the restaurant manager position?”
“I liked him. He worked his way up in his family’s restaurant, from busboy to management, so he’s bringing practical knowledge in addition to his business degree. I feel confident about him if Ethan recommended him. I offered Sylvan Anders the club management job because I think she is qualified. She said the reason she applied for a waitress position was because she moves around a lot and didn’t want to commit long term anywhere. She’s supposed to let me know her decision this week. She has this unflappable vibe, like nothing surprises or fazes her. And she has tons of experience. If I can get the right people in there in those two management positions, I’ll be very happy. I appreciate Ace and Kemp’s efforts with the background checks too.”
Ben smiled. “Did you think you were going to be doing everything on your own?”
“Yes, actually I did.”
“Any regrets?”
Camilla chuckled. “No, I’m relieved. It’s a lot for one person to manage, much less handle each task on their own.”
“There wouldn’t be enough hours in the day for all the work, if you did. You’d burn yourself out in no time. And you wouldn’t have any time for your men, either. We were worried you’d think we were being pushy or high-handed.”
“I might’ve, a few weeks ago, but not now. I’m learning my limitations.”
“You’re still looking tired. Did you make a doctor’s appointment?”
“Yes, I did. I see Emma later this week.”
“Good. I know it makes me sound like a caveman, but you’re my woman, and I want to take care of you.”
“Pushy caveman. You’ll have to put me to bed early,” she murmured suggestively.
Ben arched an eyebrow and gave her a sexy smile, his dark-brown eyes promising all sorts of fun. “Don’t think I won’t, sugar.”
The waiter brought their food, and as they ate, Camilla decided to broach the subject that had been on her mind since her talk with him about his family. He might be more willing to answer her questions if it was just the two of them.
“Ben?”
“Hmm?”
She turned slightly in the booth so she faced him and said, “Remember when you told me about your mom and dad…and what happened?”
“Sure.”
“Could I talk to you about that? I’ve been curious.”
His expression was more guarded but he nodded. “There isn’t much more to tell but you can ask me whatever you want to know. I’m not hiding anything from you.”
“Thank you. Do you ever feel…angry toward your mom?”
“You mean for dying?” He paused and thought the question over and she remained silent. “For a while, yeah, I did. I remember thinking, as a teenager, that I should’ve been enough of a reason for her to…”
“To keep living? To persist?”
Ben nodded at her affirmatively, and though the subject was sad and serious, she could see appreciation in his eyes that she got what he was trying to say. Boy, did she understand that sentiment. She’d always wondered why she’d never been enough to keep her mom going, pushing forward despite the heartache, just to see her daughter grow up.
“Do you miss your grandparents?” She’d never really known either set of her grandparents. She had some fuzzy photographs but her recollections were dim and from the perspective of a very small child.
“You said that you and Ethan had a dream of starting a saloon together, remember?”
Ben’s eyes twinkled with good humor, which made her feel better for poking at potentially tender areas in his past. “To get chicks, yeah.”
“Did you ever feel—I don’t know—odd about opening up a nightclub that serves alcohol, when your dad had drinking problems?”
“If I blame the alcohol for what happened t
hen that takes the responsibility off of my dad. He made those decisions, to give in to an addiction that ruined his health, hurt my mom, and ultimately deprived me of both of them. He chose to drive while intoxicated and that was on him. Have you ever once seen me drunk?”
Camilla thought about it for a few seconds. “No.”
“Have you ever seen me drink a beer, a shot, or a mixed drink?”
“Sure. Plenty of times.”
“I control my actions, not the drink. Yes, I did some hard thinking about it because I didn’t want to contribute to the same sort of scenario I grew up with. We decided to open up a place where adults could come to have a good time. It’s up to them whether or not they act responsibly. You and I watch out for them from behind the bar, minding who’s had too much and needs to be cut off, who needs a ride home or to be asked for their car keys.”
“That’s true. Can I ask you a personal question?”
Ben kissed her forehead and said, “Why not. Ask your questions, sugar. I’m a captive audience.”
“Have you and Quinten ever shared anyone before me?”
“No. You were a first for both of us.” That answer satisfied her so much she wanted to kiss him.
“So you and Ethan never shared anyone? Like…”
“You mean was I ever interested in Grace?”
Camilla’s cheeks went hot as she nodded. “Yes. And answer honestly. I’m just curious. You didn’t know me at the time so it doesn’t matter.”
Ben shook his head and a deep chuckle rumbled from him. “No. I know Ethan had experiences like that when he was in college, but I never did. When I met Grace, she was already in love with Jack and falling for Ethan and Adam, pretty hard and fast, too, as I recall. I thought she was beautiful, and just exactly what those three needed, but I never harbored any feelings for her. If anything, I suppose I felt…”
“What?”
“Envious, maybe? I liked seeing my friend find a woman that completed him, filled the empty places in his life. I wanted that too. Lucky for me, I found her. Quinten and I hit it off from the very first night he worked at the club. We’re like-minded on a lot of issues, we trusted each other, and when we realized we were both harboring feelings for you, it seemed only natural to consider the possibility.”
“And I wouldn’t go out with either of you.”
“You about killed us with that little rule of yours, sugar.”
“I’m glad you didn’t give up. I fell in love with you both, bit by bit, and I was so worried that you’d realize it and either make me choose between the two of you, or shut me down, since I was an employee. I couldn’t see myself working with you if you knew I loved you and you didn’t return the feeling.”
“It all worked out.” He lifted his glass of draft beer and she tilted her iced tea glass against his. “To us. The three of us.”
Camilla stroked his thigh and whispered, “Let’s finish our food. I want to go home and get naked with you.”
Ben waved at the waiter. “Check!”
At the house, she stripped and helped Ben undress, then drew him by the hand into the middle of the bed and straddled him, taking him into her body. Fire sizzled in her blood as his cock slid between her lips, stretching and invading her.
He reclined on the piled-up pillows and watched her intently as he curled his hips, groaning as he sank in further. “I love you, Camilla. I want to build a life with you and have a family of our own someday. I want what my parents never fully enjoyed.”
“I love you too.”
She arched her back and took him deeper, drawing a heartfelt groan from her lover. Cupping his face in her hands, she leaned forward and feathered a kiss over his cheekbones and stroked his lower lip with her tongue. This was a different side of him, allowing her to love him, not taking control, and she gladly gave him what he needed, her tender loving care.
He gazed up at her with a rapt expression, and she held eye contact with him as she established her rhythm and made love to him. His face flushed, and he pressed back against the pillows as he gave in to the urge to thrust up against her. He caressed her lower belly and pressed his thumb against her clit, quickening her climb to orgasm. The climactic waves fluttered within her pelvis, growing as the tension within her increased.
“That’s right, sugar. Come for me.”
She cupped her breasts in her hands and pinched her nipples, sending her spiraling over the edge of bliss. He gripped her hips and guided her up and down on his cock, and a triumphant cry erupted from him as another orgasm followed on the heels of her first, gripping his cock with hot, tight contractions as his cum jetted inside her.
“Yes,” she whispered, as she collapsed against him, his cock still pulsing. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled the covers over them as they both lay there in state of bliss, recovering.
His arms trembled as he held her and whispered, “You’re really something.”
She gave him a contented purring sound and then said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you and Quinten for a favor, if you’re interested.”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
She giggled. “Don’t be so quick to agree, honey. I have a sex swing. I’d like to install it here.”
She bobbed up and down on Ben’s chest as he shook with laughter, the sensation a wholly joyful one.
“Our woman wants us to install a sex swing, presumably for us to fuck her in, and she’s worried that we might say no. Silly girl. Of course we’ll install it. Just tell us where.”
“I’d like to hang it in here, but if you like it, I’d also like to be able to hang it on the back porch.”
“Yeah, I’ve gotten the impression that you like a little outdoor lovin’ every now and then.”
“You figured that out, did you?”
“I’m going to enjoy learning all the benefits of that device, I think.”
“Mmm-hmm. I was worried that you’d be curious why I had it or who I’d used it with.”
“Not really. It’s yours, right?”
“Yes. I bought it before I left for Europe with Brandon. We never used it. It’s still in its box.”
“Is it the kind that has restraints on it? So that we can tie you up and have you at our mercy?”
“Yes. It has Velcro cuffs for my ankles, knees, and wrists on it so you can restrain me in it if you’d like.” Her pussy fluttered around him at the thought of being tied up for their pleasure.
He groaned softly. “You like that idea. We’re definitely installing your swing…and playing with some more of your toys too.”
“Twist my arm, why don’t you?”
“Twist you? No. Tie you up? Definitely.”
His big, warm hands felt delicious sliding over her back, warming her. She pressed her lips to his broad chest and rubbed her cheek against him like a contented kitten. The scent of his clean sweat filled her senses and increased the serenity coursing in her veins.
She’d assumed he’d started to drift as his hand slowed its stroking. His voice rumbled in his chest under her ear as he asked, “Do you ever miss your old life? The more formal Dominance and submission?”
Camilla smiled as she sat up and braced her hands on either side of his arms. She lifted up so he could withdraw and then settled there, straddling him. If she had to have this discussion with him, she’d just as soon do it in a position where she could see his face and judge his reactions. She didn’t want there to be anything unsaid between them on this issue.
“You mean playing in clubs? In a formal setting?” He nodded and the glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes cautioned her to proceed carefully so there would be no doubt in his mind how important the role he played in her life was.
“I enjoy the play. It makes me feel free, and I love the edge the kinkiness gives to sex. But I played more at home than in clubs with Brandon. He got off on the pain play and knew what I liked. We were there for each other. I don’t need to go there. I’m perfectly content to play with you, wherever you want to lea
d me. I want you to explore.”
His smile was reassuring to her. Then he asked, “I’m curious about your relationship with Joseph.”
She expected him to ask more questions about Brandon, so bringing up Joseph threw her. Joseph was special, so she chose her words thoughtfully.
“Joseph is a loving Dom. We went to him because we didn’t want to make mistakes topping each other. In the time we spent at the club, learning from him, he never had a full-time sub, although I’ll be honest and tell you that Brandon and I would’ve fought each other for that right. He had this way about him. All he had to do was look me in the eye and use that steely tone, and I’d do what he asked. Whenever we would talk, he was so good at putting me at ease and making me feel safe that I didn’t hold anything back from him. He could ask me anything. Only one other person has ever been able to draw that response from me.”
“Brandon?” His brows drew together slightly.
“No. You.” She stroked his dark chest hair, and he gently squeezed her.
“Did you have sex with him?”
Camilla smiled and shook her head. “No. Joseph supervised the play, along with his dungeon masters, but I don’t think he makes a habit of having sex with the submissives that are members of the club. When I asked him if he had a full-time sub hidden away somewhere, he told me he didn’t and…”
“And what?”
“And then he spanked me for my cheekiness.” She grinned, reliving the memory, then blushed, because Ben growled. “Sorry. It was fun.” Joseph had later quietly thanked her for caring enough about him to ask.
“Were you in love with him?” His gaze was wary but, he seemed braced to hear the truth from her.
“I idolized him,” she replied honestly. “I feel a tremendous amount of loyalty to him. But I didn’t love him. My heart belongs to you, Ben. All you have to do is speak to me in that smooth, steely tone and I turn into butter.”
“I like the sound of that.” He seemed satisfied as he looked up at her. “Right now, you need your sleep.” He pulled her down and turned so he lay on his side and cuddled her up to him. Whether they were entwined together like this, or if he ever decided to train formally as a Dom, she felt safe in his care. Sheltered.
Tiny Dancer [Divine Creek Ranch 13] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 25