“Very nice,” Thom said. He hardly glanced at them, his attention for Kitty alone, even in her drab, high-necked blue gown. That would have to go soon, she vowed.
“Do you know how to play?” she asked innocently. “I like to play with forfeits instead of money.”
“Forfeits?” Thom asked, clearly intrigued. “What kind?”
“Oh, clothing, kisses,” she said casually. “Whatever we can think of.”
Thom’s grin was very enthusiastic. “Oh yes, that sounds delightful.”
She smiled back and bit her lip with a little shiver. “All right. Shall I deal?”
“Yes, I think that would be best. I’m not a very good card player.”
Kitty had to turn away to hide her grin of triumph. This was going to be far too easy. She ought to feel bad, but of course she didn’t. She won the first hand with a seventeen. She was planning on winning them all. She was a horrendous cheat and a very good one. “Oh look, I’ve won,” she said ingeniously.
“So you have,” Thom said, tossing his cards down. “What shall my forfeit be?” He was looking at her mouth, and he licked his lips.
“A kiss,” she said. Her heart was pounding. This was it, then. Finally.
“All right,” Thom agreed. He just lay there, with a half-smile on his face, waiting.
Kitty was no shy maid. She leaned over, resting on her hands and stopped just short of his mouth. She could feel his warm breath on her lips and shivered again. “If you’re sure,” she said.
Thom closed the gap, softly pressing his lips to hers. Kitty tilted her head and rubbed against the contact. Then she lightly traced the seam of his lips with her tongue. His hand rose and gripped her upper arm, but he made no other move. He slowly opened his mouth and she slid her tongue inside. She kept the kiss slow and deep, learning his flavor and texture and encouraging him to do the same. He tasted divine, sweet and delicious, his mouth so warm and wet. After a moment she slowly pulled away, stopping again just a hairsbreadth away from him. She licked her lips and met his heated stare. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back. His hand glided down her arm in a featherlight caress and then she moved back to her place.
The atmosphere was charged, like the air before a lighting strike.
She won the next trick too. She turned her back to him. “Would you undo my buttons?”
“Is that my forfeit?” Thom asked, amusement in his voice. “That seems backward.” He slowly undid each button down the back of her dress, his fingers brushing against her more than necessary.
“This dress is choking me,” she said. When he had it unbuttoned and she was a quivering mess of nerves and excitement, she rose onto her knees and pulled it off over her head. She tossed it aside, settling back on her knees wearing her shift, corset, petticoats and stockings. “And it isn’t as if I’m not still covered.”
Thom looked pointedly at her breasts, pushed high by the corset and barely covered by the nearly transparent shift. “That’s true,” he murmured. His gaze met hers. “I now see what torture you have planned for me.”
“Vingt-et-un,” she said on the next trick. She tossed the cards down and leaned over him, one hand on either side of his shoulders. “Another kiss.”
He lay down on his back. “I see how it is,” he said breathlessly, tracing the line of her shift with one finger. “You’re cheating.”
“What a dreadful thing to say,” she whispered, right before she kissed him.
Thom felt a stirring in the air, a movement that wasn’t him or Kitty. He broke away from the drugging lure of her lips and, breathless, panting, looked over at the door. Devlin stood there watching them.
“Dev,” Kitty said, her voice uneven and breathless. Thom was glad she was as affected by their love play as he was.
“We’re playing vingt-et-un,” Thom said inanely.
“Kitty,” Devlin said reproachfully. He shook his head. “She cheats. Very well. Don’t play cards with her unless you wish to lose.”
“Losing has been quite acceptable so far.” Thom was gaining his footing. If they could act like nothing was amiss, then so could he.
Devlin wasn’t showing a reaction. None at all. He just watched them, his face closed off, his emotions hidden. “Did you tell her?” he asked Thom casually. He had his coat tossed over his shoulder and after he asked the question he looked away and threw his coat onto his corner chair.
Thom’s heart raced harder, guilt and awareness and trepidation making his voice rough. “I thought it should wait until we were both here.”
“Ah,” Devlin said, his voice still calm and neutral. “Talking can wait for me, but loving can’t?”
“Tell me what?” Kitty asked. She still lay atop him, her breasts pressed to his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world to have a discussion with Devlin while she was draped so beguilingly over him. He could feel the hard points of her nipples through the flimsy fabrics of her shift and his shirt. It was sweet torture. When Devlin turned to look at them again, Thom’s cock swelled. What must they look like to him? Was it as arousing for Devlin to see them as it was for Thom to be watched? He understood them a little better now, the nights they’d fucked knowing he was watching.
Devlin met his stare. “I sucked Thom’s cock today.”
“What?” Kitty asked loudly, clearly shocked. She sat up abruptly and Thom missed her warmth and her nipples and what might have been. She glared between them and smacked Thom’s shoulder, then wagged a finger at Devlin. “Don’t you complain about who couldn’t wait for whom.” She looked down at Thom expectantly.
“Sorry?” he said lamely.
She snorted. “No, you’re not. Well? How was it?”
Thom’s head was reeling. “You’re not mad?”
“Of course I am,” she said, sitting back on her heels with a huff as she crossed her arms. “I’ve been orchestrating it for weeks. I can’t believe you did it without me.”
“You’ve been orchestrating it?” Devlin asked, his arms crossed as well and his brow lowered. “As if we’re puppets or play toys? Well, I didn’t suck his cock for you, hussy. And your grand scheme had nothing to do with it.”
“What grand scheme?” Thom asked.
They ignored him. “Oh, I see,” Kitty angrily retorted. “So this was your way of getting back at me? Of getting what you want without giving me what I want?”
“It wasn’t about you,” Devlin said through clenched teeth. “And you seem to be doing all right at getting what you want.”
“I had a nightmare,” Thom said distractedly. “How was sucking my cock revenge against Kitty?” He turned to her, truly contrite. “I’m sorry, Kitty. I have hurt you. It won’t happen again.”
“It won’t?” Devlin asked in that bossy, superior way of his. “I didn’t give you a say about this afternoon, and if I feel like doing it again you won’t have a say then, either.”
“I very much had a say,” Thom argued logically. “Clearly I said yes when I gripped your shirt in my fists and fucked your mouth with abandon.”
“Oh, more,” Kitty said in delight. She shimmied down next to Thom and draped her leg over his. “Tell me more.”
“I had a nightmare,” Thom said, looking away and brushing his hair out of his face. Kitty cupped his cheek and turned him back to face her, her eyes sympathetic. “Devlin came in and woke me up, and I threw myself at him.”
“You just needed someone,” Devlin said gruffly. “I was here.”
“I asked you to fuck me,” Thom said sarcastically.
“Did you really want him to?” Kitty asked. She laid her head down on his shoulder so he couldn’t see her face. She was tracing little patterns over his heart and he shivered at the touch.
“Yes. No. I don’t know,” he said in frustration.
“You don’t know?” Devlin asked. He sat down in the chair, right on top of his jacket. He didn’t exactly drop into it, but there was a sense of shock about
it all the same. “Did you want me to suck your cock?”
“Yes,” Thom snapped. “I already said so, didn’t I?”
“Just because of the nightmare?” Kitty asked the hard question. “Or because he was Devlin?”
Thom’s gaze clashed with Devlin’s and then froze. Devlin still wasn’t showing much of a reaction, but he waited silently for Thom’s answer. “Both,” he said, watching him closely. Devlin didn’t even blink. “I needed someone. But I wanted Devlin, and was glad it was him.”
“If it had been someone else, would you still have let them?” Kitty was relentless, her finger still tracing those patterns that were giving him gooseflesh.
“I don’t know,” Thom said in frustration. “In the past, I…” He stopped. They knew what he’d done.
“Ah,” Kitty said. She sat up next to him again and he could see her face. She looked sympathetic and a little disappointed. “That’s why you started doing that.”
He nodded, miserable. He wasn’t handling this well at all. “I’m very…weak after the dreams. Do you understand?” He hated to have to admit it, but they surely knew it already. “But today, when it was Devlin and not some stranger, I took great comfort from it.” He sat up, too, and blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m not saying it right. I’m glad it was Devlin. I trusted him. I wanted him.”
“It meant something that it was him,” Kitty said simply. She nodded. “That I understand.”
“This is new to me,” Thom admitted ruefully. “Not being with a man. I wish I could say that was, too. Although the way Devlin did it was new to me.” Devlin just raised a brow. Thom motioned among the three of them. “This. I’ve never been with two people.”
“Do you want to be with two people?” Devlin asked. He was still just sitting there, his hands on the arms of the chair, relaxed.
“Yes,” Thom said. “If it’s you two.”
Kitty beamed at him. “That was the perfect answer.” She took his face in both hands and kissed him, deep and long and he responded, cupping his hands around her shoulders. When she pulled back she sucked his lower lip between hers and let it go with a satisfying pop. He was breathing hard again, as he felt Devlin’s eyes on them.
He rested his forehead on Kitty’s. “Does Devlin want me to be with you?” he asked. He had to know. If the answer was no, he’d leave. He’d never come between these two. What they had was too elemental, too real and true. He’d never known two people who belonged together more. Kitty turned her head, keeping her forehead on his, and stared at Devlin.
The silence was deafening. Thom was about to get up and leave when he heard Devlin speak, his voice low and rough and wicked. “Yes.”
Chapter Sixteen
Dev cursed himself for three times a fool. But God help him, he’d give just about anything to see Thom and Kitty fuck. He knew Kitty inside and out. Neither of them had been with anyone else in years. They hadn’t wanted to. And now, on the same day, they’d both given into temptation and tasted Thom. But it was just a little taste. He wanted more.
He debated with his baser nature. The whole point of everything was to get them together, Thom and Kitty. He was going to leave when they were strong enough to get along without him. Well, Kitty was strong enough now he supposed, but she deserved what Thom could give her. The life she’d always deserved, one of happiness and respectability. He’d found the earl for her all those years ago to get her out of the brothel. And now he’d give her Thom, to complete the transformation. Thom deserved Kitty, too, didn’t he? He’d been through so damn much and still come out on the other end kind and thoughtful and generous, a man you wanted by your side. By Kitty’s side, at least. He deserved the happiness Dev knew Kitty could bring him. She’d done it for Dev.
But before he let them go, he wanted a taste of what they’d be together. He deserved it. In his own way he’d played the puppeteer, just as he’d accused Kitty of doing. He’d brought them together, he’d made it possible by sobering Thom up and delivering him to her door. He’d known then that this would happen. He’d wanted it to. And now he needed to share it just this once. He refused to admit he wanted them to remember he was here their first time together. He’d be with them always, then, in this small way.
He could hear Thom’s ragged breaths from where he sat, could see Kitty’s wicked grin and both things quickened his blood. Kitty turned to kiss Thom again, and Dev growled, “Wait.”
She paused and Thom’s hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her forward slightly. He recovered quickly and let her go. Dev smiled. Thom was quick. He knew how this would be. “Good boy,” he said.
“I’m not a boy,” Thom protested in a breathless voice. “I’m a man. I have been for some time.”
Dev had to close his eyes for a moment and take a deep breath as he remembered just how much a man Thom was. He forcibly quelled the urge to stalk over there and rip his pants down and show him how much he appreciated that fact. Again. “So I learned this afternoon,” he said. He opened his eyes to find both Thom and Kitty watching him with heated gazes. “Kitty, wouldn’t you like to see too?” he suggested.
“Yes, Devlin,” she said softly. “Please.”
Oh, Kitty knew how to play this game. She loved it as much as he did. He nodded. It was all the permission she needed. She pushed Thom down to lie on the bed and when he was supine she scooted down and began to unbutton his pants.
“Am I the only one who will be disrobed?” Thom asked with breathless amusement.
“And if I say yes?” Devlin answered, rising from the chair and walking slowly over to stand at the foot of the bed. The better to observe them.
“I shall be greatly disappointed,” Thom answered, raising his hips as Kitty tugged his pants down. “I will expect you to make up for it.”
Dev raised his eyebrows incredulously. “The only thing I should be expected to do is exactly as I damn well please,” he told Thom. “Lucky for you if that happens to coincide with what pleases you. If not, you’ll have to adjust your expectations.”
Kitty laughed in that throaty way of hers that never failed to heat his blood. It meant she was already wet and ready and wanting. “Oh,” she said on an exhale. “This is going to be so much fun.”
At her remark Thom grinned, and no matter what he said it had a boyish quality to it, as if they were set on a great lark. “Yes it is,” he agreed enthusiastically.
Kitty yanked Thom’s pants off all the way and threw them over her shoulder. Dev had to dodge as they sailed past his head.
“Oh my,” she sighed. She smoothed her hands up Thom’s naked thighs and Dev heard him release a shaky breath. “Just look at you,” she said with decadent approval. “You must have been a mouthful, even for Dev.”
“Oh God,” Thom groaned. “This is going to kill me. I know it.”
Dev laughed and he watched both Kitty and Thom shiver at the sound of it. He liked that. Liked to make them want, and anticipate, maybe even fear what was to come just a little bit. “We’ll be sure not to do that,” he promised, “until you’ve come so hard you see the angels.”
Kitty leaned over and, without preamble, licked the end of Thom’s cock. He gave a shout of surprise and jerked up, just as he had with Dev earlier today. Dev fisted his hands at his side, trying hard to stay away as long as he could. But he wanted to slide in behind Thom and pull his shirt off and play with his body. Lick and suck each delectable inch until he begged for mercy. And then Dev was going to have Kitty fuck him. For a moment he considered that this really ought to be about Kitty, about the two men worshipping her. But Kitty didn’t look as if she wanted that. She wanted to do things to Thom, things she’d been dreaming about for too long. And Dev was more than happy to oblige her. But while Kitty was fucking Thom, Dev had every intention of fucking Kitty. Just the thought of rubbing up against Thom’s dick inside her made Dev nearly come in his pants like an untried youth.
Kitty was sucking on the head of Thom’s prick, her heart-shaped mouth wrapped a
round the girth of it, stretched tight. Dev had never seen a sight so arousing. He loved the way she looked when she sucked cock. So sweet and so dirty, all at the same time. Thom lay back on the bed now, his head thrown back, his eyes closed as his hand rested on Kitty’s shoulder. Without letting go, Kitty maneuvered her way between Thom’s legs, and he moaned and thrust one hand into her hair, dislodging some pins.
Dev used it as an excuse to move closer to them. He began to methodically take the pins from her hair and carefully lay them on the table beside the bed. Thom opened his eyes and watched Dev, his lower lip captured between his teeth as Kitty took more and more of his cock in her mouth. His back arched, but he tried not to look away from Dev. Dev could see what a struggle it was for him. But he liked it. As his eyes started to close, Dev barked, “Don’t look away from me.”
Thom’s eyes snapped back open, a lust haze making them glassy and unfocused. His chest was rising and falling harshly as he panted, but Dev couldn’t see it. “I want that shirt off,” he told Thom. “Sit up. Kitty, don’t stop.”
Thom obeyed without a word, struggling to sit up without disturbing Kitty, who moaned as the movement pushed his prick deeper into her mouth. Dev finally allowed himself to slip behind Thom. He slid his hands up under the shirt and gripped Thom’s hips, his thumbs riding the curve of his buttocks. “He tastes good, doesn’t he?” he murmured right next to Thom’s ear. Thom shivered and bit his lip again. Dev smiled. He was so sweet, so responsive. Perfect.
Kitty hummed her appreciation and Thom gasped. “I love when she purrs like that,” he choked out.
Dev chuckled and began to push Thom’s shirt up his torso, his hands gliding over firm, overheated, damp skin. “Mmm,” he agreed, rubbing his lips on the curve of Thom’s ear. “Feels particularly good when she does it while that sweet mouth is wrapped around your cock,” he agreed.
Thom actually whimpered.
“You can come and then get hard again, can’t you?” Dev asked casually as he finally tugged the shirt off. “You were fucking quite a few times a day there, so I assumed you could recover rather quickly.”
FightforLove Page 11