by Opal Carew
“I…” She seemed mesmerized as she stared into his eyes. “I’ll think about it.”
He smiled. “That’s all I can ask.”
The door opened and Dylan returned with a bottle of wine and bags of chips and pretzels in one hand, and three stemmed glasses in the other.
“They didn’t have any popcorn, but these should do nicely.” He dropped the bags on the coffee table, then set the glasses down. “You two look cozy. May I join you?”
Stevie smiled invitingly. “Of course.”
Dylan sat down and she eased away from Reid and leaned into Dylan, then kissed his cheek.
“Thank you for bringing the goodies.”
Dylan laughed. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
He opened the bottle and filled the glasses, then handed her one.
Reid grabbed his glass and started the movie. Then Dylan leaned in closer, so Stevie was pressed close between them.
The movie was fun and romantic, then tragic, then heart-wrenchingly fulfilling. She found herself crying at the end, her heart swelling for the characters. Dylan handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes, and she couldn’t help herself. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. Reid stroked her back and she turned to him and hugged him, too.
“I think you liked the movie,” Dylan said.
She nodded. “I’m a sucker for a happily-ever-after. Especially after so much strife.”
Reid cupped her cheek. “And I’m a sucker for you.” He kissed her, his lips coaxing.
She laughed. “If you’re trying to get me into bed, you don’t have to worry. Where you two are concerned, I’m a pushover.”
She stood up and grasped the hem of her pajama top and raised it a little, watching their eager faces, then turned and started toward the bedroom. The men stood and followed her, so she raced ahead, laughing. She pulled the top off and tossed it in Dylan’s face. Reid tackled her as she reached the bed and she fell across it, giggling. He rolled her over and his simmering blue gaze locked on her face. Then shifted to her naked breasts.
He grabbed the waistband of her pajama bottoms and pulled them off her. At the foot of the bed, Dylan was stripping off his clothes. Reid stood up and began to shed his own clothes while Dylan prowled over her. His hard, hot cock was ready to go.
And so was she.
She grabbed it and pressed it to her.
“Do it, Dylan,” she said eagerly. “Fuck me.”
His midnight eyes glittered and he thrust forward. The feel of him stretching her made her gasp.
“Oh, God, yes.”
He pumped into her and she clung to his shoulders, riding the rising wave of passion. Within moments, she was moaning her release, arching against him as he erupted inside her. He kissed her and pulled away, then Reid took his place, his thick cock sliding deep into her body.
Reid grinned. “Now that I know old movies make you horny, I’ll get a whole library of them.”
He began to move inside her and pleasure surged through her.
“Oh, God, I’m going to come again.”
“Yeah, baby. I want to see you come in my arms.”
Reid pounded into her and she wailed as she shot off to ecstasy again. Within seconds, he lurched deep, then groaned his release.
* * *
Stevie woke up snuggled between two hot, hard bodies. Her cheek was resting against Dylan’s tattooed back and Reid was behind her, his muscled arms tucked around her waist. She sighed at the delightful warmth of being here.
Their breathing was slow and deep and she didn’t want to wake them, so she carefully turned in Reid’s arms until she was facing him, then rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
She loved him.
And she loved being with both of them.
The question was, how long could she keep this casual, erotic sexual fling going with both of them? Without giving Reid hope it could lead to more? Without hurting him?
Or could she actually try a relationship with him? See where it might go?
His hand glided from her waist to her cheek and he stroked, his fingers tangling in her long hair, then cupping her head. As he held her tightly to his chest, his lips nuzzled the crown of her head.
She gazed up at him and …
Oh, God, his cobalt eyes shimmered with love as he gazed back at her.
“Good morning,” he murmured in his sleep-roughened voice.
Chapter Seventeen
“Good morning,” Stevie said almost timidly, shaken by her reaction to his loving gaze, which was an overwhelming need to burrow into his arms and stay there forever.
Their gazes locked and his lips curled up in a slow smile.
She quivered, knowing he saw it in her eyes. The way she felt about him. She couldn’t hide the love shining there.
He leaned in and captured her mouth, his lips coaxing hers. She couldn’t help herself. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight as she deepened the kiss. Giving herself to him completely.
She felt Dylan stir behind her. He sat up.
“Well, since you have the woman well in hand, I’ll go take a shower.” Dylan grinned. “If you need a second cock, you know where to find me.”
As soon as Dylan left the bed, Reid rolled Stevie onto her back, his body on top of her. She felt his big cock fall across her belly and she sucked in a breath. It was so thick and heavy.
And rock hard.
He grasped it and pressed it to her opening. As it pushed inside her in a slow, smooth stroke, her body quivered, every cell lighting up with need.
He drew back and glided forward again. Her eyelids fell closed as she murmured her need. She squeezed him, wanting to pull him so deep into her he could never escape.
He chuckled and kissed her neck, then along her shoulder. She stroked his chest, her fingertips gliding over the sculpted muscles as his hips pivoted, keeping his cock moving inside her. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her, a smile of delight on his lips. She couldn’t drag her gaze from his, getting lost in the shimmering depths of blue.
He moved faster, pumping deeper, bringing her to the brink so quickly it took her breath away. As she clung to his shoulders, pleasure swamping her senses, she knew only a few more strokes would send her over the edge.
She squeezed him inside her, and murmured sweet nonsense. That encouraged him and he thrust deeper, filling her with lightning fast strokes. Blissful joy spiraled through her and her insides coiled tighter and tighter until …
“Oh, my God…” Her words turned into a long, sweet wail of ecstasy as her body shuddered in release.
He pumped a few more times, groaning, then drove deep one more time, filling her with heat.
He sucked in a breath of air, then rolled her onto her side and into his embrace, his leg tucking around hers, his cock still buried deep inside her. She felt cocooned in his masculine warmth.
“I love you,” he whispered against her ear, and she stiffened.
His fingers threaded through her hair and he drew back to gaze down at her, concern in his vivid blue eyes.
“Are you two finished fucking yet?” Dylan said as he walked into the room, a towel slung around his hips as he dried his hair with another. Then he tossed it over the back of a chair and grinned. “Because I can join you if you like.”
At the distraction, Stevie rolled away from Reid and his disturbing gaze, then sat up.
“I’m done for now,” she said as she pushed aside the sheets and stood up. “But you can carry on with Reid if you like.”
He smiled at the sight of her naked body. “But that’s no fun if you’re not here to watch.”
“Sorry,” she said as she hurried off to the bathroom, praying Reid didn’t follow her.
* * *
Reid sat up, watching Stevie scurry away.
“Well, you look like shit,” Dylan said. “Which is odd given you just finished fucking the sexiest woman alive.”
“I fucking told her I love her and she
couldn’t escape fast enough.”
Dyan dropped his towel and pulled on a pair of clean boxers.
“That was a bold move. Maybe you should have waited.”
“You think?”
“Hey, don’t get mad at me. She’s still reeling from running into the guy who scared her off rich guys like you. What did you expect?”
“I guess I thought if she knew how much I care about her, she’d get past those things.”
Dylan chuckled. “Yeah? How’d that work for you?”
Reid gritted his teeth. He knew Dylan wasn’t being insensitive to his feelings. As always, he was forcing Reid to see things as they were, not as he wanted them to be.
“Yeah, so I screwed up,” Reid said. “But you know, I’m not giving up on her. I’m going to convince her she’s meant to be with me.”
Dylan pulled on his socks. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
* * *
When Stevie returned to the bedroom, to her relief, both Reid and Dylan were gone. She could hear them talking in the living room.
The sun was shining outside and the large backyard thermometer said it was seventy-eight degrees out so she dressed in a nice floral dress with a halter-style top and sandals. Then she drew in a deep breath and opened the bedroom door.
Both men glanced up as she walked into the room.
“Coffee coming up,” Dylan said as he rose to walk to a coffeemaker in the kitchenette in the corner.
Reid had a coffee cup in his hand and Dylan’s sat on the coffee table, still steaming.
“No, thanks,” she said. “I’ll get some when we go down to eat.” The plan had been to join Raphael and his other guests for brunch this morning.
“Actually, Stevie,” Reid said, “I was wondering if you wanted to skip it and just head straight back to the city.”
“No, of course not. It wouldn’t look good if you and Dylan slipped away early. Raphael may be offended.”
“Not if I explain to him.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I take it this is so I can avoid seeing Sean again? Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl. If Sean’s uncomfortable, he can keep his distance, but as for me, I’m capable of making polite conversation with an ex.”
“I just wanted to avoid putting you in an awkward situation.”
“I appreciate that, but there’s no need to concern yourself.”
Dylan, who’d been watching them from the kitchenette, stepped behind her and curled his arms around her waist, then kissed the back of her neck. Delightful shivers raced along her spine.
“That’s what I love about you,” Dylan said. “So feisty.”
She leaned back against him. “Yeah, well, you’re pretty lovable yourself.”
With Dylan she was comfortable bandying about the word “love,” but with Reid it was a different matter. Because with Reid the emotion was deeper. More impactful.
Her gaze locked on Reid and the tight line of his lips told her he wasn’t happy.
“By the way, you look lovely,” Dylan said, lifting her hand and turning her around in a slow spin so he could see her at every angle. His smile broadened. “I especially love the bare back and shoulders. Sexy.”
“Yes, you do look lovely in that dress,” Reid said, but she got the idea that he wished she’d worn something different. Something that didn’t showcase her curves as well as this did.
He was worried about her and Sean.
Reid stood up. “Well, we might as well get going then.”
Dylan drew his hand from hers and grabbed his cup of coffee, taking a final swig. She turned and walked to the door, the two men following her.
* * *
Reid followed Raphael out the patio doors from the study into the sunny afternoon, Dylan by his side.
After finishing brunch, Raphael had asked them to join him so they could discuss a few final points and so the lawyers could finalize the contract the next day.
“I’m sorry to have kept you from your lovely Stefani,” Raphael said as they walked across the stone patio to the grass beyond, “but it looks like her old friend … Sean Benedict I believe his name is … has been keeping her occupied.”
Reid’s gaze shot to the dock jutting out on the lake. Stevie was sitting on the wood, her sandals beside her and her feet dangling in the water. Beside her sat Sean, her ex-fiancé. The two of them were talking, Stevie with a big smile on her face. The sunlight glittered on the water, also dancing across her soft, golden locks of hair, and she flicked it over her shoulder and laughed melodically at something Sean said.
Jealousy surged through him, so intense he could barely keep it from shadowing his features.
He did his best, but Dylan knew.
Dylan turned to Raphael. “Thank you for your hospitality this weekend. We all enjoyed ourselves immensely.” He shook Raphael’s hand. “We look forward to working with you.”
“Yes, very much.” Reid also offered his hand and Raphael smiled.
“My pleasure, gentlemen. Now I must go to my Francesca and make up for the time I have spent away from her. Give your Stefani my love.”
More love for Stevie. Reid fumed as he walked across the grass toward the water. And she would accept Raphael’s as easily as she’d accepted Dylan’s.
And, it seemed, Sean Benedict’s.
But not Reid’s.
* * *
Stevie felt Reid’s presence even before she glanced up to see him approaching, a sour glint in his cobalt-blue eyes.
“There’s Reid and Dylan,” she said to Sean.
“So it’s time for you to go. I’m sure they won’t want you anywhere near your ex-fiancé.”
“I’m glad we had this time to talk,” she said.
Sean was coming to terms with the fact she was not going to go back to him. He said he wanted to be friends and she appreciated that he was trying. He clearly loved her and to his credit, he seemed more concerned with her happiness than getting what he wanted.
She’d found herself opening up to him this afternoon. She’d even told him about her writing, which was a big step for her.
“So tell me,” Sean said. “How serious are you about this guy?”
“Reid?” She shook her head. “No, it’s just a fling. Nothing long term.”
Even if she was starting to have second thoughts about keeping Reid at bay, she wasn’t going to tell Sean. Or anyone else.
“Come on. After what you said last night when I kissed you, it’s clear as day you’re in love with him.”
She stiffened. “I’m not in love with him. And even if I was, I’ve had enough of rich bastards, thank you.”
“Ouch.” He leaned in close. “Stevie, look, I get that you’re not in love with me, and I’m sorry that what happened between us caused you so much pain. I just hope you won’t let it get in the way of finding the happiness you deserve. Because if you are in love with this guy and you walk away, you’ll live to regret it. Take it from me.”
She gazed at him, her heart breaking at the pain in his eyes.
Reid and Dylan were almost at the dock now. Sean stood up and offered his hand, then helped her to her feet.
The wood of the dock was warm against her wet feet.
“Stefani, the car’s waiting for us,” Reid said, his gaze hard on Sean.
“Of course.” She turned to Sean and held out her hand. “It was nice seeing you again.”
He took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he drew her into a hug. “I’m glad we connected again.” He squeezed her hand. “And if you ever need anything, you know you can call on me.”
Reid watched them with a stormy expression.
“Thank you, Sean. Good-bye.”
She slipped on her sandals and stepped from the dock to the grass. She followed Dylan and Reid to find Raphael and Francesca, then all too soon, they were in the limousine on their way back to the penthouse.
* * *
Reid sat silently in the car, remembering how very comfortable Stevie had
looked with her ex-fiancé. They’d been laughing and talking together like old friends, which they were, but they had also been in love. And as much as Stevie might deny her feelings for the man, that could just be because of his rejection of her. Now that they had resolved that and she had clearly gotten over her anger about it, maybe she would realize she did still have feelings for the man.
If Stevie only had issues being with a wealthy man because of that rejection and she had now resolved that issue, that could be good news for Reid. He was intensely aware, however, that the rich man she chose to be with could well be Sean over him.
The very thought tore at his heart.
There was only one thing he could do.
He had to convince her that he was a more enticing option than a man she’d known and loved for years.
And there was only one way he knew how to do that.
Chapter Eighteen
Stevie grabbed a coffee at a Starbucks, then picked up a newspaper from a box on her way back to the cab. She got into the car and pulled onto a side street, then opened to the want ads. It was time she found a place to stay. She picked up a pen from her caddy and started circling apartments to check out.
A few hours later, she stared at the tiny, grubby place as the superintendent waited at the door. Ugh, she’d definitely rather sleep in her cab than live here. And this was the best of the three she’d seen this morning.
She walked down the several flights of stairs, relieved to breathe in the fresh air when she finally reached the front door and opened it.
She glanced at her watch and realized it was time to go meet Jon and Derrick for lunch. She drove to the small bistro where she was meeting them and parked the cab in a spot conveniently right outside the place. Not that she would have minded walking a block or two, but there was something satisfying about finding the perfect parking spot. And it improved her whole mood.