They sat outside on the cushioned edge of her Jacuzzi, dangling their feet in the water after twenty minutes submersed in the bubbling water. A balmy breeze blew over their damp skin and the full moon highlighted Trevor’s wet hair. Dana couldn’t resist pushing a section behind his ear just to have a reason to touch him.
He smiled warmly at her.
“I had a great time tonight. Dinner was delicious. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m glad you came to the store. I missed you, but thought you needed your space, so I didn’t call.”
He picked up her hand and held it tightly in his. “I have to admit I was a little embarrassed by my behavior yesterday.”
“Well, I’m glad we got that behind us. While we’re on that topic, I’m ready to start the sculpture tomorrow. Let me know when the two of you are available.”
“Tomorrow works for me. I’m sure Trace is available. Just tell me when you want us here.”
“It will have to be after our stores close. Can you make six o’clock?”
He squeezed her hand. “Your two subjects will be here at six o’clock, as you request.”
Dana smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “My pleasure.”
Chapter Eight
Dana rushed around the room, setting the stage for the brothers. Trevor had been on her mind all day and she couldn’t wait to see him again. She spoke to him briefly when he called to confirm that he and Trace would be there for the sitting that evening, even though he still didn’t sound too happy about the prospect of posing with his brother.
She tried not to focus on the brothers’ squabbles. Instead, she concentrated on making sure she had all the materials ready to do the job.
Trace arrived first. Dana watched his rented sports car pull into the driveway. She wiped sweaty hands on her jeans before opening the door for him. He walked past her, brushing against her shoulder without an apology. As she closed the door behind him, she noted him looking in the adjoining rooms.
“Is Trev here yet?” He swung around to regard her and their gazes collided. There it was again, that strange, uneasy feeling. She swallowed hard.
“No. But he’ll be here shortly, I’m sure.”
He nodded and stepped so close to her that if she breathed too hard, her chest would brush against his.
“I’m glad you decided to include me in this. I’ve missed seeing you.” He touched her cheek lightly.
She turned her face away from him. “That’s nice. I think you should know that your brother and I have something special going on.”
He chuckled. “What does that have to do with you and me? Or are you still denying the attraction you feel toward me?”
“No, Trace. It’s you who is in denial.” She shook her head.
“Are you sure about that?” Why did he have to look so deeply into her eyes, as if he wanted to peer into her soul?
She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Look, this is strictly a professional relationship that we have. Nothing more.”
A smirk lifted his lip. “If you say so. You know, it’s only natural for you to feel this way.”
Dana’s heart sped and heat colored her neck and cheeks.
“What way is that?”
“Confused. It’s not every day that you get to choose between two brothers, right?”
“I’ve already made my choice.”
“Yeah? If that’s the case, what do I get out of this? Why should I agree to sit for you?”
“I’m hoping to help you repair your relationship with your brother.”
He sneered at her. “I told you I’m perfectly capable of doing that all by myself. So what else do you have to offer?” His gaze swept her body and she felt like she had just been undressed.
Dana took another step back.
Trevor chose that moment to make his entrance and she thanked her lucky stars for his timing. She noted a momentary scowl cross his features when he saw how close his brother stood to her. But she moved quickly to his side to give him a hug and he relaxed into her embrace.
“Sorry I’m late.” He gave her a brief kiss.
Dana smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s fine. We were just chatting until you got here.” She scowled at Trace before turning to look at Trevor again. “Let’s begin, shall we? I’ve got the back room set up. Can I get you something to drink first?”
She laced her arm through Trevor’s and Trace took advantage of her free arm to do the same.
“Sure. What do you have? A drink is a good way to loosen up before work.”
Trevor shook his head. “I’m sure she’s not referring to that kind of drink, Trace.”
Trace shrugged. “Yeah, I figured that.”
They walked into her workroom and she pointed to two robes hanging on a rack. “I’ll get some ice water while you disrobe. Please feel free to slip those on.”
Trevor turned to Trace the moment she was out of earshot. “I saw the way you were looking at Dana when I arrived. I’m warning you. Don’t get any ideas. She’s off-limits.”
Trace glared back. “Really, bro? Are you going to start this again? Look, I told you before that ‘all’s fair in love and war’.” He slipped off his loafers and kicked them aside.
“Not where Dana’s concerned. She doesn’t need the likes of you in her life.” Trevor slid off his shoes and trousers. He folded his pants neatly and set them on the couch.
Trace tossed his shirt onto the sofa and unbuckled his belt. “I think that’s best left up to her. She’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions.”
Trevor unbuttoned his shirt and hung it on the rack. “I’ll make sure she has all the facts at her disposal then, so she can make an informed decision.”
Trace dropped his pants and faced Trevor with his hands on his hips.
“So that’s the way it’s going to be? You want to play ‘tit for tat’? Remember, you haven’t lived a charmed life, either. Shall I bring up what happened in Rome?”
Trevor gritted his teeth. It took all his strength to hold back from laying his brother out flat on the floor. Serena was in the past and that’s where she needed to stay.
“You of all people should not be discussing Serena. Say a word about that and you’ll regret it the rest of your life.”
“Then let bygones be bygones, bro.” He reached down and picked up his pants. “What do you say?”
Trevor gritted his teeth. “Not this time.”
Trace took off his socks and threw them on the couch. “Look, I can’t help it that you and I both get the hots for the same women. I guess it’s in our DNA. If you think you’re the better man, there should be no competition.”
Trevor narrowed his gaze at his brother. He didn’t like the sound of that. In the back of his mind, he recalled the many times Trace betrayed him and ended up with the girl.
Dana reappeared with a tray of glasses and a pitcher of ice water. He walked toward her without wrapping a robe around his body. If Trace wasn’t going to play fair, he would do everything he could to level the playing field. As he reached for a glass, Trace was right behind him.
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.” Trace grabbed a glass of water.
Dana laughed at the two naked men before her. “I guess you don’t worry about modesty.” She kept her eyes trained on their faces, but could still see their entire bodies out of her peripheral vision. Her heart raced.
“Oh hell, no! We lost that the first week in modeling school. What about you? I see you’re still wearing clothes,” Trace said.
A rush of warmth suffused her body at the recollection of her dream. “That’s because I’m not the subject of the sculpture. There’s no need for me to undress.”
“That hardly seems fair. What incentive is there for us to continue to hold the same position for hours if not to look at a beautiful woman sitting before us in all her nude glory?” Trace wiggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t mind him. He�
��s just crass,” Trevor said while giving Trace a look that could kill.
“I’ll give you plenty of breaks,” Dana replied, laughing. “Now if you’re ready, let’s get started. Shall we?”
“Show me what you want, baby. I’m all yours,” Trace said as she led the way. Dana noticed Trevor poke Trace in the ribs and heard his groan.
She stopped in the middle of the room where the lighting was set to shine directly on their bodies.
“Trevor, come here.” Dana took him by the hand and led him to stand on the spot marked with an “X” on the floor. “This is where you will pose during our sittings.”
Then she moved to a contiguous location. “Trace, this is where you will stand.” She pointed to the double “X” on the floor. “Now watch carefully as I demonstrate the position I wish you to assume. Trace, you first.”
Trace did an excellent job of portraying what she had shown him. He placed his left foot forward and leaned his weight upon it and extended his right arm toward her.
“All right. Very good. Now hold that position. Trevor, this is what I want you to do.” Again, she got into the position. Trevor stood slightly back from Trace, his hand on his shoulder as though trying to stop him from going forward.
Once they were both posed, she stepped back to assess the arrangement. They were such perfect specimens that it almost brought tears to her eyes. In a way, it was an honor to capture their essences in clay. Indeed, just to look at their naked male bodies was a rare and beautiful gift.
She knew it would be no problem to rearrange Trevor, for they had already experienced the excitement of touching each other’s body. When she grasped Trevor’s arm, his biceps moved and she shivered at the thought of his strong arms wrapped around her. She couldn’t wait to be back in his arms again. He smiled warmly at her and she smiled back.
Touching Trace caused an unexpected reaction. She had anticipated that it would be a delicate operation to move his back leg without touching his cock and she tried to avoid it. But her best intentions were not good enough. The moment her fingers brushed against him, his rod grew long and strong. It was like watching a flower bloom in slow motion. She glanced up to see his pupils grow large. He moaned and she stumbled backward.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry!” Heat spread up her neck and into her cheeks.
“Don’t apologize. Why did you stop? I was enjoying it.” Trace’s grin spread from ear to ear. Trevor poked him again.
“Ouch. Stop!” Trace whispered to his brother.
Dana took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to allow a momentary faux pas ruin her plans for the evening. He was in position now. She could begin.
“Okay, guys, try to not disturb the setting. Hold it like that.”
She went to her workstation and sat. “Would you like some music to listen to?”
“That would be great,” Trevor said.
“Let me know when you need a break,” Dana said, focusing on the work at hand.
A large chunk of clay sat upon her workstation waiting to magically transform into something beautiful. Smiling, she nodded at the men and molded the soft clay, following the lines of their bodies. Though the clay was not nearly as exquisite as running her hands over the men’s perfect forms, she was nevertheless getting aroused by looking at them. She often shifted in her chair, trying to ease the uncomfortable ache between her legs. The men occasionally smiled when they noticed her squirming.
Twenty minutes later, she heard the brothers whispering, though she couldn’t make out what they were saying over the music playing next to her.
“Is something the matter?”
“Trevor has a cramp in his calf, but doesn’t want to ask for a break,” Trace said.
Dana looked at the clock. She had been so wrapped up in her work that she hadn’t noticed how quickly time had flown.
“Oh, it is time for a break. Trevor, go walk it off outside.”
“I’ll be fine. Continue.” She could hear the agony in his voice, yet he stubbornly held his position.
She dropped the clay and wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s too late. I’m taking a break because I need one.”
Trevor scowled as he limped past her. She gave him a sweet smile and tossed him a kiss. He shook his head while putting on the robe.
“You’re welcome. Don’t worry, you’ll thank me later.” She winked.
Trace lagged behind his brother. As Trevor left, he stopped to admire Dana’s work. He turned his head from side to side, trying to analyze the sculpture.
“Hmm. Is that really what we look like?”
“You can’t see any definition yet. This is the beginning stages. It will take shape in the next couple of hours. Have patience,” she said while rolling her head and rubbing her neck.
“What’s the matter? Does your neck hurt? Here, let me help you.” Before she could object, Trace’s hands were massaging her shoulders.
“No, stop. Please, that’s all right,” she protested and tried to stand. But her attempt was unsuccessful. His strong hands held tight as he pushed her back down onto the chair.
“Relax. You’re tense and knotted. I know what I’m doing.”
Dana sighed as his fingers kneaded her muscles with a practiced touch and the tension drained away.
“Mmm.”
He laughed. “Yes, that feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Okay. Thank you. It’s better now.”
“Nope. Stay where you are. I just found another knot.” Dana winced as he pushed against a tender spot.
“See? I’m trying to help. Don’t be so stubborn.”
“All right. Another few minutes. So how long are you going to be in town?” Dana decided conversation would keep him focused on something other than her.
“As long as it takes.”
“For what?”
“My business deal to go through.”
“The one you discussed with Trevor?”
“Uh huh. Why? Did he tell you about it?”
She shrugged. “Not really. He didn’t go into any details. He just told me that he wasn’t interested.”
“Is that so?” His touch became so rough that she cried out when he dug deeply into her muscle.
“Yes. Ouch.” She flinched.
“Sorry. Some people like deep tissue massage. Hmm, well, perhaps he doesn’t want to tell you what’s going on.”
“I can’t imagine why not.”
Trace chuckled. “Trevor’s not as up front as you might think. He has been known to keep secrets.”
That caught her attention. What would Trevor want to keep from me?
“Of course, if you were mine, I’d want you to know everything that’s going on.”
If you were mine… His words ran through her mind like a tune repeating over and over. She didn’t like the sound of that. Trace was definitely trouble. But she also didn’t like the idea that Trevor was possibly holding something back.
“I’m all right now. You can stop.” She tried to wiggle away from him, but he wouldn’t let go.
“No, give it a few minutes more. I’ll be gentler.” His face came close to hers as he leaned down next to her. “You’re still tense.”
“Yes, I know.”
He might have thought her tenseness was due to working too long in the same position, but that wasn’t the problem. Though Trace had the most amazing touch and was helping to unknot the tension in her shoulders, she worried what Trevor might think if he came back and saw what was going on.
There were a few moments of complete silence, then Trace spoke and she practically jumped out of her chair.
“How long will it take you to make this sculpture?”
“Oh. Um, it shouldn’t take more than a week or two at the most. I work fast, once I get started. It will depend on how much time you can spend with me.”
He swung her chair around to face him. “I’d like to spend a great deal of time with you…alone. The question is—how much time do you have for me?”
Da
na’s face was in a direct line with his hard-on, which had returned in all its glory. Was that just from a few minutes of massaging me?
It suddenly became very clear why she had never sculpted a naked man before. There were always complications—sexy complications—and issues that never arose with a woman.
“Trace, I…” She saw Trevor heading toward them and a wave of trepidation shimmied down her spine. Dana looked at Trace’s erection, then glanced up at Trevor. Awkward. This position looked far more incriminating than having Trace’s hands on her shoulders. She hoped he didn’t think she was giving his brother head.
“What’s going on?” Trevor’s voice sounded gruff as he approached. His eyes narrowed on his brother’s shaft.
“Nothing, apparently,” Trace said, frustration tingeing his voice. He looked down at Dana and ran a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair.
“Now I need to walk it off. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He turned abruptly and waved over his shoulder as he left the room.
“Trace, you forgot something,” Trevor said, taking off the robe and tossing it to his brother. Trace caught it on the fly and scowled at him.
Dana released a long sigh as Trace disappeared through the door.
“Did he do anything inappropriate?” Trevor’s gaze landed squarely on her breasts, which made her nipples harden. He put his hands on his hips and inhaled deeply.
“N…no. He was um, just…” Oh dear, nothing I say is going to sound right.
“Come here.”
He extended his hand and helped her stand. She looked directly into his eyes and hoped her confusion wasn’t evident.
“Are you sure?” The way he asked the question sounded like an accusation. He pulled her against his chest and brushed her hair back with his hand.
“Of course I am. I’m fine. Nothing happened.” She wished she sounded more convincing. The encounter with Trace unnerved her.
Trevor looked deeply into her eyes. Her heart beat fast. Oh dear Lord! What have I gotten myself into?
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