Primal Passion

by Mari Carr

  Price grinned. “So the only thing you need help with is the sex-and-shit-like-that stuff?”

  She shot him a dirty look. “You know what I mean. If you insist on calling me Denise and feeding me that line about me being a woman, not a girl, then you’re going to have to toe the line and treat me like an adult. Otherwise, you might as well just call me Deni.”

  “Fine, Denise. Let’s have a rational, adult conversation, shall we?”

  His calm response took some of the wind out of Deni’s sails.

  “My research is very important to me and I’ve been making some real progress lately. I can’t lose my momentum. It’s taken me years to get to this point.”

  Gunner knew that, understood her concerns. Deni was married to her work. It was going to take time for her to adjust to what he hoped their life would become. “We know that, Deni. We’d never belittle what you do or fail to acknowledge how valuable it is. But, gorgeous, you’ve given your life to that research, to the lab, and now your life is at risk. Until the threat against you is removed, keeping you safe is our top priority. Then…after that danger is removed, we’re going to have to figure out how to make this relationship work. I suspect it will mean sacrifices on all of our parts.”

  Deni sank down onto the coffee table. “What do mean?”

  Price took a sip of his whiskey. “He means you’re not going to sleep at the lab anymore. You’ll be in bed—with us—every night.”

  “I don’t think I can make that promise.”

  Deni wasn’t being purposely stubborn, Gunner could see that. In fact, she appeared to be panicking. He rose, kneeling in front of her. “Why don’t we tackle some of the easier things first?”

  Before he could steer the conversation to safer waters, there was a knock at the door.

  “That will be room service.” Price rose to answer. “Deni ordered something for you, Gunner. Claimed it was your favorite.”

  Gunner grinned. “Bacon cheeseburger?”

  She laughed. “Yep. Congestive heart failure on a sesame-seed bun with a side of artery-clogging fries.”

  Gunner took her hand and led her to a small dining table in the corner. He was accustomed to her making fun of his poor diet choices. Typically, he ate healthy meals at home, but whenever they went out for dinner, he splurged. “Extra pickles?”

  “Is there any other way?”

  Price signed the slip, tipped the waiter and carried the tray over. They were quiet as each of them claimed their meals, some silverware and Price refilled their drinks.

  They discussed insignificant things as they ate—the weather in Boston, the strength of the Celtics bench in a recent game, which movie they thought should win the Oscar. It was a surprisingly easy meal when Gunner considered he was sitting with the two people—one a complete stranger—he’d just vowed to spend his life with.

  After dinner, they returned to the comfortable seats in the living area. Price reclaimed his earlier chair while Gunner shared the loveseat with Deni again. Her hair had long since dried, natural waves curling around her pretty face. He found it difficult to look at her without imagining gripping those soft tresses as he pressed his cock deep inside her. He shifted, trying to keep his erection at bay. It was getting more difficult as the evening gave way to night. The moment of truth loomed ever nearer.

  Time to get serious. He placed his arm along the back of the couch, enjoying the way Deni moved closer. “So, I suppose we need to figure some things out. Should we knock them down? One at a time?”

  “Fire away,” Price said.

  Gunner started with an easy one. “Living situation.”

  “Denise’s house is trashed, and I’m not happy with the neighborhood. It’s unsafe. Since she and I both live and work in Boston, I’d like to offer my home as an option.”

  Gunner could just imagine the opulence of Price’s house. This was a man whose primary form of transportation was a limousine with a personal driver. “I could request a transfer to the Boston office, but I’m not sure how quickly something like that could be processed.”

  Price raised an eyebrow. “With the Trinity Masters’ influence? I suspect we could make it happen faster than you think.”

  Gunner didn’t reply, puzzling over Price’s use of the word we. Price seemed to have an inside track to the internal workings of the Trinity Masters that he certainly didn’t possess.

  They both turned to Deni.

  “I don’t really have a place to go right now. My apartment is destroyed and you’ve ruled out the cot in my lab as a viable option.”

  Gunner’s chest tightened at the unhappiness on her face. He’d never seen his little spitfire scientist looking so lost. She’d spent the majority of her life alone, without friends or lovers. She truly had no idea how to fit into a real relationship. “Deni. We’ll all make a home together. There are three of us now. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

  “Gunner’s right. We have time to sort this out, find answers we’re all comfortable with.”

  Deni nodded. “What do you do for a living, Price?”

  Gunner realized that while he’d cheated, Deni was still flying blind in regards to Price Bennett.

  “I own a security company.”

  Deni looked down at the T-shirt she was wearing. “Yeah. I figured that much out, but it doesn’t really tell me anything.”

  Gunner chuckled at the understatement of Price’s response. “Sort of giving her the Spark’s Notes version, aren’t you? Price is CEO of one of the most prestigious and prosperous security firms out there. His list of clients would probably read like a who’s who of the world’s most rich and famous.”

  “Someone did their homework.” Price didn’t sound offended by Gunner’s knowledge.

  He shrugged. “I had some time to kill at Deni’s apartment.”

  “And you ran a background check.” Price actually looked impressed. “I did the same thing while Denise was showering. You graduated from Boston University with honors and a criminal justice degree. You were top of your class at the FBI Academy and you played rugby in high school.”

  Gunner grinned. He liked a pissing contest as much as the next guy. “Very good. You’re left-handed, your mother is a distant cousin of Charlie Chaplin and you were born on March 11.”

  Price shook his head. “I may have to try to steal you away from the FBI. I could use a man with an eye for details.”

  “You’re a Pisces,” Deni muttered, looking at Price.

  Price looked at her. “Excuse me?”

  “Your birth sign. You’re a Pisces, a water sign. I’m Leo, fire. Could be a tricky combination.”

  Gunner laughed. “Never pegged you as an astrology believer, Deni.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not actually. I was just feeling left out of the conversation.”

  Gunner gestured for her to continue. “Tell us more. And I should warn you now. I’m an earth sign.”

  Deni grinned. “A girl in one of my college classes was talking to her girlfriend about astrology once. Trying to explain that she’d dumped this guy because their signs weren’t compatible. I was curious because this girl really seemed to put a lot of weight on the idea, so I checked a book out of the library and read up on it. Thought it was pretty fascinating.”

  Price leaned forward, looking intrigued. “So the signs are against us?”

  She gave him a mischievous grin. “Possibly. Do you think the Grand Master takes astrological signs into account when he forms the threesomes?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Again, Gunner was struck by Price’s certainty, but he let it go, continuing with the checklist of issues that still needed to be resolved. “So now that we’ve tackled the living situation, personal information and problematic horoscopes, maybe we should go ahead and acknowledge the elephant in the corner.”

  It occurred to Gunner that Deni wouldn’t completely relax until the sex issue had been resolved. It had been hovering in the background all day. Perhaps they would
all feel better if they knew the physical aspects of this odd relationship would work.

  Deni frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  Price rose and perched on the edge of the coffee table in front of her. “He’s talking about sex, Denise.”

  “Oh.” Deni ran her palms along her thighs, trying to tug the T-shirt down again.

  Gunner grasped her hand. “You knew this was coming.”

  Price leaned forward. Gunner couldn’t miss how tight their circle had grown. With any other man, Gunner would feel as if his personal space was being invaded. With Price and Deni, it felt comfortable. Normal.

  Price claimed her free hand. “Why don’t we move this conversation to the bedroom? We’d be more comfortable there.”

  Deni tried to tug her hands free, but neither man released her.

  “Bedroom?”

  Gunner pulled her to her feet. And then, because he hated seeing her so frightened, he wrapped her in his embrace. Deni’s body was tense, rigid, but after a few moments, she released a long sigh, going soft in his arms. He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head when she returned the hug and touched her hands lightly to the small of his back.

  Price didn’t move. Instead, he watched in silence. Gunner’s gaze connected with Price’s and he saw approval in the other man’s eyes. They were going to have to join forces and work together to alleviate Deni’s anxiety.

  God. A virgin. Deni had revealed that little secret to him a few months earlier. She’d actually been asking him for advice on how he thought she should go about losing it. It had taken all the strength in his body not to say to hell with the Trinity Masters and take her back to his place then and there, unwilling to think about another man touching her. Instead he’d told her she should wait for the right guy, hang in there until she found that special someone.

  Now she was here and…shit. A virgin. What the hell was he supposed to do with that? He’d never had sex with an inexperienced woman. Maybe it would be easier if he didn’t care so much about Deni, but the fact was he did care. A lot. It would kill him to hurt her, to cause her any pain, physically or emotionally.

  He released her slowly and stepped back as Price moved forward. Price offered the same friendly, easy hug, but he took it to the next level, bending to kiss her.

  Gunner had never considered himself a voyeur, but watching Price and Deni kiss, observing their tongues tangle as their hands stroked each other’s faces and bodies sent his cock from emerging to erect in an instant. He adjusted the material of his pants, trying to find some relief from the sudden constriction.

  When Price and Deni parted, he was there, dying for a taste. Deni moved back to him easily. He kissed her the way he’d wanted to for years. He was a starving man at the feast and nothing would hold him back now.

  He tightened his grip in her hair with one hand as he drifted the other lower to cup her breast. Deni gasped, but he didn’t offer her surcease, an out. He kept her lips pressed against his as he explored her body.

  Deni jerked. Gunner opened his eyes, unsurprised to discover Price standing behind her, slowly lifting her T-shirt. Gunner moved back incrementally, allowing Price the room he needed to completely pull the soft cotton off. Deni hadn’t bothered to put her bra back on after her shower. Without the shirt, she stood between them in nothing but her far-too-practical, plain white cotton panties. Gunner had never seen anything sexier.

  Her skin flushed, a faint pink hue covering her cheeks and her chest. Gunner wasn’t certain if it was embarrassment or arousal causing the blush. Probably a bit of both.

  Deni tried to move closer to him, no doubt to hide. She had self-confidence when it came to her work—the woman knew her stuff—but it wasn’t translating to her personal life.

  He gently pushed her away, letting his gaze sweep over her body. Deni started to lift her hands, to use them as a shield, but Price grasped her wrists and pulled them behind her back. “Let us look at you, Denise.”

  She struggled for only a second, then, when it became apparent she was no match for Price’s strength, she stilled.

  Gunner ran his hands along her arms, her waist, her hips. Deni shivered at his touch. “You’re so beautiful.”

  A crinkle appeared between her eyes as if she was trying to read the genuineness of his compliment. Given her unusual childhood, she’d missed too many experiences she should have had—prom and Homecoming dances, weekend dates and frat parties. Deni had spent her entire life between the pages of a book or trapped in a lab, running her damn trials. The world had passed her by as she lived alone inside her clever mind. It was time to draw her out. Show her what living was really about.

  “Turn around.” Price’s deep-voiced command proved he was a man who was used to getting what he wanted. Gunner wondered how Deni would respond to Price’s alpha ways. Hell, what would she think of his?

  Her blush deepened, but she didn’t move.

  “Denise.” Price released her hands and waited.

  Gunner moved closer, whispering, “Be brave, Deni. You have nothing to hide from us.”

  She licked her lips nervously, and then twisted to face Price. Gunner noticed she kept her hands down, away from her body this time. As always, she was a quick study.

  Price took his time, eating her alive with his eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was gruff with emotion. “I want you.”

  Without waiting for a reply, Price leaned forward, picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Gunner followed, pleased to see the large king-sized bed that awaited them. Neither he nor Price were small men. They would need plenty of room. Price placed Deni on her feet and stripped her panties away in one quick motion. Then he lifted her again and gently laid her in the center of the mattress.

  Gunner reached up, loosened his tie and dragged it out of the collar as she watched.

  Price began to disrobe as well. Deni’s gaze traveled between them, quietly observing as they bared themselves to her.

  As Gunner shed his boxers, he heard Deni’s nervous intake of breath. Looking at her, it occurred to him she may never have seen a naked man before. Whenever Deni talked about growing up, she only mentioned her mother, never a father. One day soon, he’d ask her more about her family, her upbringing.

  Now wasn’t the time. His cock was hard enough to pound nails into concrete. A quick glance to the right proved Price was in a similar state.

  When Price took a step toward the bed, Deni pushed herself up and pressed her back against the headboard. Her quick retreat stopped Price in his tracks.

  They were doing this all wrong. When Deni was in their arms, when they kissed and touched her, she relaxed. They’d given her too much time to think. Gunner walked to the bed and sat next to her. He leaned against the wall as well, the two of them sitting side by side like two strangers waiting for a bus.

  He reached out and clasped her hand in his. Price watched without joining them.

  “Deni, you have nothing to be afraid of.”

  She frowned. “I’m not scared.”

  He grinned. She was a shitty liar.

  Price sank down on the mattress near her feet. “Well, I am.”

  Deni’s eyes widened. “You are?”

  “I’ve never had sex with a virgin,” Price confessed.

  “So if I’d had sex before, you’d be doing things differently?”

  Gunner nodded. “Yeah. A lot different.”

  Deni didn’t reply immediately. “I don’t want you to do that. I’ve been the odd guy out my whole life. I’m tired of it.”

  Gunner raised her hand and kissed it. “This isn’t just about you. I’ve never participated in ménage sex either.”

  Price moved closer, crawling up the bed until he’d claimed Deni’s other side. “Oh, I’ve done threesomes.”

  Deni laughed, the sound catching Gunner off-guard until she said, “Why am I not surprised?”

  She squeezed his hand and then reached over to touch Price’s face. “Tell you what. Let’s forget the virgini
ty thing and the ménage thing. Maybe we could just go with the flow. Figure out what feels right for us.”

  Price grinned. “I can handle that. What do you want to do first?”

  “Can I touch you?” Her eyes drifted lower, giving away exactly what she was curious to explore.

  Gunner moved until both he and Price were sitting in front of her. He lifted her hand and pressed her fingers against his chest. “I’m yours, Deni. You can do whatever you want.”

  She rubbed her hand along his pecs and shoulders, then repeated the same motions on Price’s chest. She drifted her fingers lower but stopped short as her shyness reappeared. Price took away her choice. He grabbed her hand and wrapped her fingers around his cock.

  Deni slowly stroked the hard flesh. Gunner wondered how Price was able to remain patient with her light touches. He shook his head. “No, Deni. Like this.” He placed his hand on top of hers, the two of them wrapped around Price’s erection.

  Price narrowed his eyes and then groaned when Gunner showed her exactly how firmly she could rub him.

  “Fuck,” Price muttered. “That feels…” His voice faded away when Gunner encouraged Deni to grip Price’s balls with her free hand. Then he added extra pressure.

  “I’m not hurting him?”

  Gunner shook his head. “You ever heard the song with the lyrics about something hurting so good? People are capable of finding pleasure through pain.”

  Price’s gaze captured Deni’s. “I’m going to show you exactly how that works.”

  “When?” Deni’s tone betrayed her undeniable interest.

  Gunner chuckled and then leaned forward and kissed her as they continued to rub their hands along Price’s cock.

  Price’s breathing warned Gunner he was getting too close. Gunner loosened his grip on Deni’s hand and then pulled her away from their lover.

  Price put his sudden freedom to good use, tugging Deni’s waist until she was lying on the mattress. Gunner continued kissing her as he gripped her hair, tightening his fingers in her soft tresses, building the pressure until Deni gasped. “Oh, I see.”

  Price leaned over her chest and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking on the distended flesh. Deni moaned.